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Big crowds demonstrate in Brazil in solidarity with embattled government Big crowds demonstrate in Brazil in solidarity with embattled government
(about 2 hours later)
SAO PAULO, Brazil — With Brazil’s president and her predecessor embroiled in a growing corruption scandal, supporters of the governing Workers’ Party took to the streets in defiant rallies Friday.SAO PAULO, Brazil — With Brazil’s president and her predecessor embroiled in a growing corruption scandal, supporters of the governing Workers’ Party took to the streets in defiant rallies Friday.
President Dilma Rousseff’s mentor, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was billed as the star attraction at a rally in Sao Paulo. Lula, as he is known here, was one of Brazil’s most popular leaders when he left office in 2011. But he and Rousseff have been drawn into an investigation into billions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks on contracts at state-run oil company Petrobras. President Dilma Rousseff’s mentor, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, gave a passionate speech while a huge crowd chanted his name in Sao Paulo. Lula, as he is known here, was one of Brazil’s most popular leaders when he left office in 2011. But he and Rousseff have been drawn into an investigation into billions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks on contracts at state-run oil company Petrobras.
On Friday, Rousseff said that aggressive tactics being used in the corruption investigation are threatening civil rights.On Friday, Rousseff said that aggressive tactics being used in the corruption investigation are threatening civil rights.
“It is important we don’t go back in history,” she said in a clear allusion to the dictatorship that ruled Brazil for two decades until 1985.“It is important we don’t go back in history,” she said in a clear allusion to the dictatorship that ruled Brazil for two decades until 1985.
Rousseff also faces an impeachment process based on accusations that she broke fiscal-responsibility laws, as well as an electoral-court investigation into whether her 2014 election campaign was funded with illicit money. Rousseff also faces an impeachment process based on accusations that she broke fiscal-responsibility laws, as well as an ­electoral-court investigation into whether her 2014 election campaign was funded with illicit money.
Pro-government protesters rallied in 20 of Brazil’s 26 states on Friday, with anti-government demonstrations staged in eight states. In Sao Paulo, tens of thousands of government supporters had flooded the streets by 6 p.m. Pro-government protesters rallied in all of Brazil’s 26 states on Friday, with anti-government demonstrations staged in eight states. In Sao Paulo, tens of thousands of government supporters had flooded the streets by 6 p.m.
As the scandal expands, Lula’s legacy as the successful, well-regarded president whose social programs helped more than 30 million Brazilians emerge from poverty is at risk of being destroyed. He has been charged with money laundering and misrepresentation over a seaside apartment that investigators say was renovated for him by construction companies involved in the Petrobras scandal. He also is being investigated in connection with repairs at a country estate. He denies the allegations. As the scandal expands, Lula’s legacy as the successful, well-regarded president whose social programs helped more than 30 million Brazilians emerge from poverty is at risk of being destroyed. Charges have been filed against him for money laundering and misrepresentation over a seaside apartment that investigators say was renovated for him by construction companies involved in the Petrobras scandal – though a judge needs to accept them He also is being investigated in connection with repairs at a country estate. He denies the allegations.
The left-leaning party that Lula helped found is hanging on to power by a thread. On Sunday, at least half a million anti-government protesters poured into the streets of Sao Paulo demanding Rousseff’s impeachment and Lula’s imprisonment. The left-leaning party that Lula helped found is hanging on to power by a thread. On Sunday, at least half a million anti-government protesters poured into the streets of Sao Paulo’s landmark Paulista Avenue demanding Rousseff’s impeachment and Lula’s imprisonment. On Friday, 95,000 people flooded the same street to defend them, turning it into a sea of Workers’ Party red.
On Wednesday, Rousseff nominated Lula for a top cabinet post, a move widely seen as a bid to shield the former union leader against arrest. Making him a minister means he could be investigated only by the Supreme Court. Rousseff insisted that she was appointing Lula for his political abilities.On Wednesday, Rousseff nominated Lula for a top cabinet post, a move widely seen as a bid to shield the former union leader against arrest. Making him a minister means he could be investigated only by the Supreme Court. Rousseff insisted that she was appointing Lula for his political abilities.
Sergio Moro, a crusading federal judge whose corruption investigations into Petrobras have led to the arrests of dozens of top political and business figures, responded to Lula’s appointment by releasing wiretap recordings of conversations the former president held with Rousseff and other left-wing politicians in recent weeks. Prosecutors say the talks showed Lula was trying to interfere with the investigations.Sergio Moro, a crusading federal judge whose corruption investigations into Petrobras have led to the arrests of dozens of top political and business figures, responded to Lula’s appointment by releasing wiretap recordings of conversations the former president held with Rousseff and other left-wing politicians in recent weeks. Prosecutors say the talks showed Lula was trying to interfere with the investigations.
On Friday, Rousseff attacked the use of wiretaps. “This is something illicit,” she said. Moro denied that allegation.On Friday, Rousseff attacked the use of wiretaps. “This is something illicit,” she said. Moro denied that allegation.
The release of the conversations prompted angry street protests across the country on both sides of the issue. On Thursday night, riot police used stun grenades and tear gas on about 8,000 protesters outside the national Congress in Brasilia, the capital.The release of the conversations prompted angry street protests across the country on both sides of the issue. On Thursday night, riot police used stun grenades and tear gas on about 8,000 protesters outside the national Congress in Brasilia, the capital.
Two federal judges suspended Lula’s nomination as a minister, but their rulings were overturned. Then, on Friday, another judge issued a ruling suspending the nomination.Two federal judges suspended Lula’s nomination as a minister, but their rulings were overturned. Then, on Friday, another judge issued a ruling suspending the nomination.
“I want impeachment, and all the bandits out of government,” said Daniela Figueiredo, 34, who was among thousands taking part in an anti-government protest that began Wednesday on Sao Paulo’s landmark Paulista Avenue. Protesters in Sao Paulo on Friday saw the release of the wire taps as an attack on democracy. “This was absurd,” said Lucas Leonidas, 20. “We have to defend democracy.” Lula led the crowd in a chant of “there will not be a coup.”
On Friday morning, police used water cannons to clear Figueiredo and other protesters off the street to make way for the pro-government rally. While red-shirted party supporters waved flags, riot police with armored trucks waited in nearby side streets. Though significant, numbers in Friday’s demonstrations were less than on March 13. But they showed the Workers’ Party is not going to relinquish power easily, said Paulo Baía, a professor of political science at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
“They will fight until the end,” he said. “It reinforces the political polarization of the country.”