- Title: Brazilians take to the streets against Temer amidst corruption allegations
- Date: 11th July 2017
- Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (JULY 10, 2017) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS SETTING FIRE TO EFFIGIES OF PRESIDENT MICHEL TEMER / EFFIGY BURNING AS PEOPLE STAND AROUND AND SCREAM PROTESTERS CHANTING "OLE" TO CHANT CALLING FOR OUSTING OF TEMER PROTESTERS SINGING AND CHANTING AROUND BURNING EFFIGIES OF TEMER FLAMES AND THICK BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM MIDDLE OF PROTEST BANNER HELD UP BY PROTESTERS THAT READS "NO TO THE REFORMS. NOT ONE LESS RIGHT. LEFTIST SOCIALIST BLOCK" (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PROTESTER, MARCIO ALVES, SAYING: "Not one less right. Out with Temer. He represents the rejection of all rights, but this is bigger than Temer. If Rodrigo Maia (Congress head) comes into power he will do the same thing or worse. So, today is not just about ousting Temer but about everything else. Not less rights because tomorrow the Brazilian Senate will cut wages." EFFIGIES OF TEMER AT FRONT OF PROTEST WITH PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS, PLAYING DRUMS AND CHANTING PROTESTERS WHEELING EFFIGIES OF TEMER DURING MARCH PROTESTERS STANDING BY TEMER EFFIGY (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) COORDINATOR FOR HOMELESS WORKERS MOVEMENT (MTST), JOSUE ROCHA, SAYING: "A day of fighting against the workers reform proposal. Tomorrow, the vote in the Senate is taking place so the people are in the streets to say they will not accept this. An illegitimate president cannot take away the rights of workers." PROTESTERS HOLDING UP LARGE BANNER THAT READS "OUT WITH TEMER" PROTESTERS PLAYING DRUMS PROTESTERS CHANTING "OUT WITH TEMER" AS THEY HOLD UP BANNER THAT READS "AGAINST THE REFORM. GO AGAINST IT WITHOUT FEAR"
- Embargoed: 25th July 2017 01:49
- Keywords: protest President Michel Temer Sao Paulo Brazil corruption economic reform
- Location: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
- City: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016P4YGJN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Brazilians burnt effigies of President Michel Temer in a Sao Paulo street on Monday (July 10) to denounce moves by the conservative government to push through reforms that protesters say will take away work and pension rights.
Temer replaced impeached leftist President Dilma Rousseff just over a year ago with a vow to turnaround the economic fortunes of Brazil's flailing economy via austerity measures. But allegations of corruption have dogged his administration and cast doubt over his reform agenda.
Investigators have uncovered stunning levels of corruption in recent years engulfing Brazil's political class and business elites. Much of it centres on companies paying billions of dollars in bribes to politicians and executives at state-run enterprises in return for lucrative contracts. Temer and one-third of his cabinet, as well as four former presidents and dozens of lawmakers are under investigation or already charged in the schemes.
Some lawmakers in Temer's ruling coalition have reported they will withdraw support from the government if corruption charges get up. With the country's lawmakers set to debate the reforms this week, Brazilians are taking advantage of political uncertainty by chanting "out with Temer". But corruption allegations against Temer now rest upon lawmakers. Under Brazilian law, the lower house of Congress must now vote on whether to allow the top tribunal to try the conservative leader. Political allies within Temer's coalition are confident they have the votes to block the two-third majority required to proceed with a trial. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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