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Rival protests show Brazilians divided over president Rousseff

Monday, 16 March 2015 1:47 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 18 March 2015 1:12 PM ]

Ben Tavener
Press TV, Sao Paulo

On Friday, President Dilma Rousseff's supporters
including the country's biggest workers' union, the CUT marched in major cities across the country in support of the current administration in the face growing calls for the impeachment of the president.

Vice President Michel Temer said that impeachment was “unthinkable” and not the answer. CUT President Vagner Freitas also criticized those who continued to question the result of October's general election, which saw Rousseff re-elected. Freitas said: Protesting is a part of a democracy, but we cannot live in this climate of 'electoral limbo' for the rest of our lives.

Still on Sunday, almost a million demonstrators in patriotic greens and yellows poured into the streets of Sao Paulo, to voice their anger at the Rousseff administration. Similar rallies were also held in all of Brazil's 26 states and the Federal District to call for Rousseff's impeachment. This just weeks after she started a second term in office.

The anti-government protests come after Petrobras, Brazil's biggest company, became entangled in the country's biggest-ever corruption scandal. A raft of senior politicians is now to be investigated.

But as Sunday's protests were simmering down, government officials said that President Rousseff plans to introduce a series of measures to fight against corruption in the coming days.
The weekend’s mainly peaceful protests have brought many of Brazil's unresolved problems to the fore, and again shown a country divided.

Those calling for President Rousseff's impeachment know there is, for now, little chance of success. But their voices have grown louder, and they are warning the government of their deep concern over the economy and outrage at allegations of corruption against dozens of Brazil's top politicians.

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