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Brazil: Thousands back Dilma Rousseff over Petrobras | Brazil: Thousands back Dilma Rousseff over Petrobras |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Thousands of government supporters across Brazil have been taking part in marches to show their backing for President Dilma Rousseff. | Thousands of government supporters across Brazil have been taking part in marches to show their backing for President Dilma Rousseff. |
The opposition has called for Ms Rousseff's impeachment over a huge corruption scandal in the state-owned oil company, Petrobras. | |
Most of the politicians accused of taking bribes are from Brazil's governing coalition. | Most of the politicians accused of taking bribes are from Brazil's governing coalition. |
Anti-government marches are expected to take place on Sunday. | Anti-government marches are expected to take place on Sunday. |
Ms Rousseff was head of Petrobras for seven years, when much of the corruption is believed to have taken place. | Ms Rousseff was head of Petrobras for seven years, when much of the corruption is believed to have taken place. |
But she has not been implicated in the corruption scandal. | But she has not been implicated in the corruption scandal. |
Government supporters say the calls for her impeachment, less than four months after she was re-elected to a second four-year term, amounts to a coup attempt. | Government supporters say the calls for her impeachment, less than four months after she was re-elected to a second four-year term, amounts to a coup attempt. |
'Congressmen to blame' | 'Congressmen to blame' |
Pro-government demonstrations are going ahead in 14 Brazilian states. Most of them have been called by unions that support the governing Workers' Party. | Pro-government demonstrations are going ahead in 14 Brazilian states. Most of them have been called by unions that support the governing Workers' Party. |
"I am here to prevent that they take away the social benefits we have earned," said 69-year-old Alaide Pereira da Silva at a march in the city of Ribeirao Preto, in Sao Paulo state. | "I am here to prevent that they take away the social benefits we have earned," said 69-year-old Alaide Pereira da Silva at a march in the city of Ribeirao Preto, in Sao Paulo state. |
"We can't blame Dilma [Rousseff]. The congressmen are to blame. She doesn't govern on her own," she told O Globo newspaper. | "We can't blame Dilma [Rousseff]. The congressmen are to blame. She doesn't govern on her own," she told O Globo newspaper. |
Last week, the Supreme Court approved the investigation of 54 people for their alleged involvement in the kickback scheme. | Last week, the Supreme Court approved the investigation of 54 people for their alleged involvement in the kickback scheme. |
The list was prepared by the Attorney General, Rodrigo Junot, who alleged that private companies paid corrupt officials in order to get lucrative Petrobras contracts. | The list was prepared by the Attorney General, Rodrigo Junot, who alleged that private companies paid corrupt officials in order to get lucrative Petrobras contracts. |
According to the investigation, high-profile politicians also took a share of the money siphoned off from the oil company. | According to the investigation, high-profile politicians also took a share of the money siphoned off from the oil company. |
Mr Junot's list includes Senate President Renan Calheiros, President of the Chamber of Deputies Eduardo Cunha, former Energy Minister Edison Lobao and former President Fernando Collor de Mello. | Mr Junot's list includes Senate President Renan Calheiros, President of the Chamber of Deputies Eduardo Cunha, former Energy Minister Edison Lobao and former President Fernando Collor de Mello. |
In December, prosecutors charged executives from six of the country's largest construction firms for allegedly channelling kickbacks into a Petrobras scheme to pay politicians. | In December, prosecutors charged executives from six of the country's largest construction firms for allegedly channelling kickbacks into a Petrobras scheme to pay politicians. |