BRAZIL: President Dilma Rousseff proposes referendum to meet demands from mass protests

Record ID: 862683

  • Title: BRAZIL: President Dilma Rousseff proposes referendum to meet demands from mass protests
  • Date: 24th June 2013
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (RECENT) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) PROTESTERS RUNNING FROM POLICE FIRING TEAR GAS DEMONSTRATORS THROWING ROCKS AT POLICE VARIOUS OF POLICE FIRING TEAR GAS DEMONSTRATORS TALKING TO CAMERA WHEN A TEAR GAS BOMB EXPLODES NEARBY
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • City:
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Crime,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAANT5UYFPBBWDWUSW5RHS7O3B6
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Monday (June 24) proposed a debate over holding a referendum to facilitate political reform in response to a massive protest movement that has swept the South American country this month.
    Rousseff met with state governors and mayors of some of the cities dealing with massive demonstrations in Brasilia. Meanwhile, the protest movement continued to swell with more demonstrations planned for Monday and beyond in cities including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia and Belo Horizonte.
    The movement started in Sao Paulo on June 6 when demonstrators led by the Free Fare Movement took to the streets to decry a hike in public transportation fares.
    The demonstration was met with police resistance and soon spread to other cities. It quickly expanded to include a list of grievances including corruption, police violence, lack of funding for education and health care and the ballooning costs of hosting the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
    "The people are in the streets now saying they want the change to continue. That they want it to expand and happen even faster. They are saying they want more citizenry, complete citizenry. The streets are telling us that the country wants quality public services. They want more efficient mechanisms to fight corruption and to ensure the good use of public funds," Rouseff said.
    Speaking on government television, the president outlined a five-point plan to address the main issues raised by the demonstrators including fiscal responsibility, political reform, health care, education and public transportation.
    "At this time I want to propose a debate over calling a referendum that would authorize the operating of a constituent process specifically for implementing the political reform the country needs so badly. Brazil is ready to advance and has made it clear it does not want to stay put where it is," she said.
    Although many of the protests have been peaceful, some have descended into violence, leaving dozens injured and two killed.
    While vowing to crack down on a violent minority that have looted stores and vandalized government buildings, Rousseff has praised the democratic spirit of most protesters.
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