Brazilians come out in Sao Paulo to demonstrate against impeachment

Record ID: 103588

  • Title: Brazilians come out in Sao Paulo to demonstrate against impeachment
  • Date: 15th May 2016
  • Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (MAY 15, 2016) (REUTERS) WIDE OF DEMONSTRATION AGAINST INTERIM GOVERNMENT WITH BANNER REFERRING TO SUSPENSION OF DILMA ROUSSEFF AS PRESIDENT, AS A "COUP" VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATION ATTENDEES HOLDING BANNERS IN SUPPORT OF ROUSSEFF AND AGAINST INTERIM PRESIDENT MICHEL TEMER WHILE SINGING CHEERS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN PROTESTER, MARIA BOPP, SAYING: "Because Temer's government is illegitimate, patriarchal, machista and does not represent us. We are going to be in the streets every day until (that government) falls." VARIOUS MORE OF PROTESTERS CHANTING, SHAKING FISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN PROTESTER, GABRIEL RIBAS, SAYING: "In 24 hours, Temer has taken us back 30 years of advances. It's absurd. We can't allow for this to continue happening. We have to stand against. We have to be out in the streets." VARIOUS MORE OF PROTESTERS IN THE STREETS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN PROTESTER, MARIA DAS NEVES, SAYING: "It's not a government that combats corruption, but rather it's a government that supports and legitimises corruption in our country. And so that's why we are here, the women, to say we don't recognise this sexist government of Temer. Say no to the coup. Out with the illegitimate and sexist government." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WALKING
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2016 22:26
  • Keywords: Michel Temer Dilma Rousseff impeachment Sao Paulo
  • Location: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
  • City: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014HX535Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Paulistas came out in droves Sunday in their Brazilian hometown of Sao Paulo to express opposition to the interim government of Michel Temer after the suspension of Dilma Rousseff.
    The centrist Temer, Rousseff's vice president, is scrambling to pull the economy out of its worst recession since the 1930s. Rousseff represents the left-leaning Workers' Party (PT).
    Brazil's crisis brought a dramatic end to the 13-year rule of the Workers Party, which rode a wave of populist sentiment that swept South America starting around 2000 and enabled a generation of leftist leaders to leverage a boom in the region's commodity exports to pursue ambitious and transformative social policies.
    Rousseff, after five months of impeachment proceedings, now faces a senate trial over irregularities in her government's budget. The trial could take up to 180 days and is expected to lead to her definitive ouster.
    Brazil's Senate deliberated for 20 hours before voting 55-22 early on Thursday to put Rousseff on trial over charges that she disguised the size of the budget deficit to make the economy look healthier in the runup to her 2014 re-election.
    Throngs came out to Sao Paulo to attack the proceedings as a "coup" via chants and posters.
    "Because Temer's government is illegitimate, patriarchal, machista and does not represent us. We are going to be in the streets every day until (that government) falls," said protester Maria Bopp.
    After Rousseff's suspension, Temer charged his new ministers with enacting business-friendly policies while maintaining the still-popular social programmes that were the hallmark of the Workers Party. In a sign of slimmer times, the cabinet has 23 ministers, a third fewer than Rousseff's. They are all white males.
    "In 24 hours, Temer has taken us back 30 years of advances. It's absurd. We can't allow for this to continue happening. We have to stand against. We have to be out in the streets," said protester, Gabriel Ribas.
    Brazil emerged from a military dictatorship back in 1985.
    "It's not a government that combats corruption, but rather it's a government that supports and legitimises corruption in our country. And so that's why we are here, the women, to say we don't recognise this sexist government of Temer. Say no to the coup. Out with the illegitimate and sexist government," said protester, Maria das Neves.
    Rousseff, who is spending the weekend with family in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, has said she could appeal to regional organizations in efforts to discredit the impeachment process. Thus far, however, she has complied with all procedures related to her suspension.
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