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Brazil protests seen as key test for Pres. Rousseff Big turnout for protests urging ouster of Brazil’s president
(about 4 hours later)
SAO PAULO — Brazilians took to the streets on Sunday for a day of nationwide protests against embattled President Dilma Rousseff that are widely seen as a key test of her ability to weather the political and economic crises lashing the country. SAO PAULO — Brazilians ratcheted up the heat for embattled President Dilma Rousseff on Sunday, turning out by the tens of thousands for demonstrations across the country calling for her ouster.
The president faces impeachment proceedings over alleged fiscal mismanagement with the country in the throes of the worst recession in decades and amid a sprawling investigation into corruption at the state-run oil giant Petrobras. The biggest protest took place in Brazil’s economic capital, Sao Paulo, a bastion of simmering dissatisfaction with Rousseff and her governing Workers’ Party. The respected Datafolha polling agency estimated about 500,000 people took part in the Sao Paulo demonstration, while police estimates put turnout at nearly three times that number.
Observers say a big turnout at Sunday’s protests could further hamper Rousseff’s ability to fight for her political survival amid record-low approval ratings. But anemic turnout could breathe new life into her administration by suggesting that the majority of the population opposes her ouster. Organizers said about 1 million people joined the anti-Rousseff demonstration in Rio de Janeiro.
Although Rousseff herself had raised fears of possible clashes between supporters of her Workers’ Party and the anti-government demonstrators, no such incidents appeared to mar Sunday’s protests, which had a festive, almost Carnival-like atmosphere. In a statement, Rousseff said, “The peaceful character of this Sunday’s demonstrations shows the maturity of a country that knows how to co-exist with different opinions and knows how to secure respect to its laws and institutions.”
Planned in more than 300 cities and towns throughout the country, the demonstrations were publicized largely through social media, with organizers saying they expected high turnout. Their prediction appeared to be largely playing out, although precise crowd estimates were hard to come by. The street rallies came two days after she rejected the idea of resigning.
Organizers estimated that about 1 million people turned out in Rio de Janeiro, but police officials — whose crowd estimates are generally a fraction of that of organizers — have not provided their own count. An estimated 100,000 people are thought to have taken part in the demonstration in the capital, Brasilia, and events in the central city of Belo Horizonte and the northeastern coastal city of Recife also appeared to draw thick crowds. In Sao Paulo, Brazil’s economic capital, crowds began to flood the main thoroughfare hours ahead the scheduled start of the event. The demonstrations add to an already-difficult position of Rousseff. She faces the twin problems of an impeachment effort in congress over alleged fiscal mismanagement amid the worst recession in decades and the sprawling investigation by federal prosecutors into corruption at state-run oil giant Petrobras that has moved closer to her inner circle in recent weeks.
Demonstrators in the city, a hotbed of dissatisfaction with Rousseff and her governing Workers’ Party, brandished Brazilian flags and signs reading “Workers’ Party out.” Analysts said the strong turnout at the protests could further hamper Rousseff’s ability to fight for her political survival and could lead to the unraveling of her fragile governing coalition.
“She (Rousseff) has to go,” said Sao Paulo protester Patricio Gonzaga, an unemployed 32-year-old metal worker. “She is the person responsible for the mess our economy is in — the inflation, recession and unemployment. She is to blame for me being unemployed and having trouble supporting my family.” “There is a situation of ungovernability,” said Francisco Fonseca, a political science professor at Pontifical Catholic University in Sao Paulo. “The president has few cards.”
In Rio de Janeiro, multitudes defied the threatening rain clouds overhead to converge on Copacabana Beach the morning after heavy rains that caused widespread flooding throughout the city. Dressed largely in the yellow and green hues of the Brazilian flag, the Rio demonstrators filled the broad avenue that runs along the beach, chanting anti-government slogans and singing the national anthem. Fonseca pointed out that the demonstrations continued to be dominated by the largely white, upper middle class demographic that has been staging regular protests against Rousseff for over a year.
Demonstrators across the country stressed that their anger extended well beyond Rousseff and her Workers’ Party, saying the so-called Car Wash investigation into corruption at Petrobras had compromised the entire political class. “The poor who are affected by the economic crisis aren’t in the streets,” he said, adding Sunday’s protests demonstrated a “generalized discontent with the political system” without necessarily shoring up any particular opposition party or politician.
“Of course I want to see Rousseff booted out,” said Rio demonstrator Maria de Lima Pimenta, a 75-year-old retired schoolteacher. “But then the problem becomes, who will replace her? They’re all crooks.” Organized largely through social media, demonstrations took place in some 200 cities and towns across Brazil. Rousseff had raised fears of possible clashes between supporters of her party and the anti-government demonstrators, but no serious incidents were reported during Sunday’s protests, which had a festive atmosphere.
Protest organizers stressed the movement wasn’t linked to any opposition political party, and signs endorsing parties were largely absent from the demonstrations. But several top politicians turned out, including Aecio Neves, the opposition politician who narrowly lost to Rousseff in the 2013 run-off, as well as Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin. Both were booed. Crowds in the yellow and green hues of the Brazilian flag brandished signs reading “Workers’ Party out.”
“We need to turn the page,” said Alckmin, a day after he spent the day with Rousseff as the two surveyed damage from flooding in the mega-city late last week. “She (Rousseff) has to go,” said Patricio Gonzaga, an unemployed metal worker who took part in the Sao Paulo gathering. “She is the person responsible for the mess our economy is in — the inflation, recession and unemployment. She is to blame for me being unemployed and having trouble supporting my family.”
The Petrobras scandal has ensnared key figures from Rousseff’s Workers’ Party, including her predecessor and mentor, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as members of opposition parties. Demonstrators across the country stressed that their anger extended well beyond Rousseff and the Workers’ Party, saying the “Car Wash” investigation into corruption at Petrobras had compromised the entire political class.
Political tensions in Brazil have spiked since earlier this month when Silva was briefly detained by police for questioning as part of the corruption probe. Silva’s supporters and detractors gathered in front of his apartment in the Sao Paulo area, and scuffles broke out between the two groups. “Of course I want to see Rousseff booted out,” said Maria de Lima Pimenta, a retired schoolteacher who was at the anti-Rousseff march along Rio’s Copacabana Beach. “But then the problem becomes, who will replace her? They’re all crooks.”
On Wednesday, the tension was ratcheted up another notch, as Silva was charged in a separate case with money-laundering. Protest organizers stressed that the movement isn’t linked to any opposition political party, and signs endorsing parties were largely absent from the demonstrations.
In a show of solidarity with the former president, several hundred people gathered outside of Silva’s apartment early Sunday. At one point, Silva himself went down to greet the approximately 400 supporters. But several top politicians turned out, including Aecio Neves, the opposition politician who narrowly lost to Rousseff in the 2013 presidential run-off election, and Sao Paulo state Gov. Geraldo Alckmin. Both were booed, and like other politicians who ventured out to the demonstrations, both beat a rapid retreat.
News reports have said Rousseff has offered Silva a ministerial post that would shield him from possible imprisonment on corruption and money laundering charges. Under Brazilian law, only the Supreme Court can authorize the investigation, imprisonment and trial of cabinet members. The Petrobras scandal has ensnared key figures from Rousseff’s party, including her predecessor and mentor, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as members of opposition parties.
Speaking on Friday, Rousseff said she would be “extremely proud” to have Silva, the once-wildly popular leader who governed Brazil from 2003-2011, but declined to say whether he would join the government. Political tensions in Brazil have spiked since earlier this month when Silva was briefly detained by police for questioning as part of the Petrobras probe. Silva’s supporters and detractors scuffled in front of his apartment in the Sao Paulo area.
Asked whether she would resign amid mounting pressure, Rousseff objected to the very idea of demanding the resignation of an elected president without concrete evidence the leader had violated the constitution. On Wednesday, the tension rose again when Silva was hit with money-laundering charges in a separate case.
She said that “if there is no reason to do so, I will not step down,” calling on journalists at the event in Brasilia to “at least attest that I don’t look like someone who is going to step down.” News reports have said Rousseff, whose second term runs through the end of 2018, has offered Silva a ministerial post that would shield him from possible imprisonment on any charges. Under Brazilian law, only the Supreme Court can authorize the investigation, imprisonment and trial of Cabinet members.
Rousseff’s second term in office runs through the end of 2018. Rousseff said at a Friday news conference that she would be “extremely proud” to have Silva, a once-wildly popular leader who governed Brazil in 2003-2011, but declined to say whether he would join the government.
Prominent politicians from opposition parties and also from within the broad governing coalition have floated the idea of a “semi-presidential” regime as a way out of the political crisis. Under the proposal, Rousseff would remain head of state and a head of government figure would be created. Observers say the proposal would likely not be a fast fix, however, as it would have to win approval from Congress. Turning to calls for her to quit, she said it was objectionable to demand the resignation of an elected president without concrete evidence the leader had violated the constitution.
__ “If there is no reason to do so, I will not step down,” Rousseff said, calling on journalists at the event in Brasilia to “at least attest that I don’t look like someone who is going to step down.”
Jenny Barchfield reported from Rio de Janeiro. Associated Press writer Stan Lehman contributed to the report from Sao Paulo. ___
Associated Press writer Mauricio Savarese reported this story in Sao Paulo and AP writer Jenny Barchfield reported from Rio de Janeiro. AP writer Stan Lehman in Sao Paulo contributed to this report.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.