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Brazil Congress rejects controversial amendment | Brazil Congress rejects controversial amendment |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Brazil's Congress has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that was a key grievance of protesters who took to streets across the country. | Brazil's Congress has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that was a key grievance of protesters who took to streets across the country. |
Demonstrators had argued PEC 37, which would have limited the power of federal prosecutors to investigate crimes, might open the way for more corruption. | Demonstrators had argued PEC 37, which would have limited the power of federal prosecutors to investigate crimes, might open the way for more corruption. |
On Tuesday, the measure was defeated by 430 votes to nine. | On Tuesday, the measure was defeated by 430 votes to nine. |
Congress also voted to use all the royalties from newly discovered oil fields for education and health. | |
Earlier, the government modified its plan for political reform in order to speed up the process, officials said. | Earlier, the government modified its plan for political reform in order to speed up the process, officials said. |
As a key part of her response to the recent unrest, President Dilma Rousseff proposed on Monday to hold a referendum to establish a constituent assembly to amend the constitution. | As a key part of her response to the recent unrest, President Dilma Rousseff proposed on Monday to hold a referendum to establish a constituent assembly to amend the constitution. |
Ministers are now suggesting they will focus on a more straightforward referendum proposing political reform, reports BBC Brasil's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo. | Ministers are now suggesting they will focus on a more straightforward referendum proposing political reform, reports BBC Brasil's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo. |
It could address "concrete questions", such as campaign financing and political representation, and be voted on as soon as 7 September. | It could address "concrete questions", such as campaign financing and political representation, and be voted on as soon as 7 September. |
Education Minister Aloisio Mercadante said the government wanted political reform with "wide public participation". | Education Minister Aloisio Mercadante said the government wanted political reform with "wide public participation". |
"We want [the referendum] to happen as soon as possible," he said. | "We want [the referendum] to happen as soon as possible," he said. |
A controversial measure to recruit more foreign doctors to address a shortfall in the health system is also going ahead despite the objections of organisations representing Brazilian medical practitioners. | A controversial measure to recruit more foreign doctors to address a shortfall in the health system is also going ahead despite the objections of organisations representing Brazilian medical practitioners. |
The sudden burst of initiatives is not confined to the government, our correspondent says. | The sudden burst of initiatives is not confined to the government, our correspondent says. |
The President of the Senate, Renan Calheiros, has proposed free transport for all students. | The President of the Senate, Renan Calheiros, has proposed free transport for all students. |
Various city authorities have reversed increases in public transport fares that were a source of widespread public anger. | Various city authorities have reversed increases in public transport fares that were a source of widespread public anger. |
'Pressure from the streets' | 'Pressure from the streets' |
Our correspondent says the flurry of political activity is taking place ahead of a series of demonstrations in various Brazilian cities on Wednesday. | Our correspondent says the flurry of political activity is taking place ahead of a series of demonstrations in various Brazilian cities on Wednesday. |
One of the largest is due to take place in the city of Belo Horizonte where Brazil's football team will play Uruguay in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup. | One of the largest is due to take place in the city of Belo Horizonte where Brazil's football team will play Uruguay in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup. |
There is a public holiday in the city, and tens of thousands of protesters are expected. A protest group has promised to start the day demonstrating in front of the national team's hotel. | There is a public holiday in the city, and tens of thousands of protesters are expected. A protest group has promised to start the day demonstrating in front of the national team's hotel. |
The cost of the World Cup, for which the Confederations Cup is a dress rehearsal, has been a key issue in recent protests. | The cost of the World Cup, for which the Confederations Cup is a dress rehearsal, has been a key issue in recent protests. |
Security will be tight with thousands of police on duty and other special forces on standby. | Security will be tight with thousands of police on duty and other special forces on standby. |
There were violent clashes in Belo Horizonte on Saturday during another protest. | There were violent clashes in Belo Horizonte on Saturday during another protest. |
The nature of the demonstration is likely to be seen as an early test of whether the rash of political concessions is having an impact, our correspondent adds. | The nature of the demonstration is likely to be seen as an early test of whether the rash of political concessions is having an impact, our correspondent adds. |
One national newspaper described the defeat of PEC 37 as a direct result of "pressure from the streets". | One national newspaper described the defeat of PEC 37 as a direct result of "pressure from the streets". |
PEC 37, which was proposed by a special Congressional committee, would have assigned the power to conduct criminal investigations exclusively to the police, thus removing the role of federal prosecution service from the evaluation of criminal charges. | PEC 37, which was proposed by a special Congressional committee, would have assigned the power to conduct criminal investigations exclusively to the police, thus removing the role of federal prosecution service from the evaluation of criminal charges. |
Critics said the amendment would have affected the ability of prosecutors to conduct effective, fair and impartial criminal investigations, including those into organised crime and corruption. | Critics said the amendment would have affected the ability of prosecutors to conduct effective, fair and impartial criminal investigations, including those into organised crime and corruption. |
The wave of rallies in more than 100 cities began in Sao Paulo, where residents were unhappy at planned rises in public-transport fares. | The wave of rallies in more than 100 cities began in Sao Paulo, where residents were unhappy at planned rises in public-transport fares. |
Those increases have since been shelved, but the protests spread across Brazil, and the protesters' demands have become more wide-ranging. | Those increases have since been shelved, but the protests spread across Brazil, and the protesters' demands have become more wide-ranging. |
Brazilians have been demanding better health and education, saying they are fed up with paying relatively high taxes and feel that they do not get enough back from the state. | Brazilians have been demanding better health and education, saying they are fed up with paying relatively high taxes and feel that they do not get enough back from the state. |
The high cost of staging next year's football World Cup and the 2016 Olympics has also become a recurring grievance. | The high cost of staging next year's football World Cup and the 2016 Olympics has also become a recurring grievance. |
Protesters are also angry about corruption and frustrated with politicians and political parties. | Protesters are also angry about corruption and frustrated with politicians and political parties. |