This Article is From Dec 05, 2016

Brazilians Take To Streets Against Corruption

Brazilians Take To Streets Against Corruption

Demonstrators protest along Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil against corruptio

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Brazilians marched across the country Sunday, protesting against corrupt politicians and what they see as attempts by Congress to shut down a huge anti-graft probe.

Dressed overwhelmingly in the green and yellow national colors and waving the Brazilian flag, thousands of demonstrators flocked to a beachside avenue in Rio's posh Copacabana, outside Congress in the capital Brasilia, and to the center of the country's financial powerhouse Sao Paulo.

The peaceful crowds expressed support for Operation Car Wash, a probe that has uncovered mass embezzlement by politicians and top executives at state oil company Petrobras and other businesses.

"Car Wash -- protected by the people," read one placard in Rio carried by a man wrapped in the Brazilian flag.

Demonstrators were furious at a vote earlier this week by the lower house of Congress -- where many deputies are themselves suspects in criminal probes -- to weaken a long-planned anti-corruption bill and to intimidate judges and prosecutors.

The vote, which took place while most Brazilians slept during the early hours of Wednesday, prompted prosecutors from the Car Wash case to threaten resignation.

In Rio, protesters lauded Sergio Moro, the judge heading Car Wash cases, chanting: "Moro, fighter for the Brazilian people."
"We trust in Moro," read placards in Sao Paulo.

Villain in chief

Latin America's biggest country has been in turmoil all year.

Car Wash revelations have already brought down major political and business figures, the economy is in its worst recession in decades, and in August the leftist president Dilma Rousseff was impeached and replaced by center right veteran Michel Temer, triggering nationwide tensions.

The protesters' main villain on Sunday was the powerful Senate speaker, Renan Calheiros, who this week attempted to hold a lightening quick vote to confirm the lower house's controversial corruption bill, but had to retreat. Calheiros also faced a ruling this week by the Supreme Court that he must stand trial on multiple corruption charges.

"Renan out!" and "Lock Renan up!" the crowd chanted in Brasilia, where they performed a mock funeral march with a coffin inscribed "corruption."

In Rio, comedian Marcelo Madureira told the crowd from a sound truck that the street pressure which helped push out the unpopular Rousseff would now bring more change to Brazil.

"Every time we've taken to the streets we've won," he said. "And what is the scalp we want most now? We want the head of Renan Calheiros."

Temer in trouble?

This rage could be bad news for Temer, who came to power with promises of putting a broken Brazil back together.

The uproar around Calheiros is only the latest in a series of scandals engulfing Temer's allies and ministers, reducing his credibility right when he is starting to push through painful economic austerity measures.

"Dilma Rousseff's impeachment and Temer replacing her is not the solution -- the solution will be when these corrupt politicians step down and go to jail," said Brasilia demonstrator Marcos Aurelio Matias.

Globo newspaper columnist Gerson Camarotti said that although Temer is not a target at present, he'll be spooked by Brazilians' return to the streets.

"Right now there's a perception that the main target of the demonstrations is the Senate president, Renan Calheiros," Camarotti wrote. "But there's a private recognition that this wave of protests could rapidly reach the president of the republic."

Sao Paulo protester Paula Suarez, an artist who came wearing a yellow shirt, said Brazilians are in no mood for compromise.

"We were in the street to support impeachment but the politicians can't relax. They should know we'll stay in the street against them all," Suarez, 51, said.

"We want popular protests in the street to bring real change for Brazil," said her friend Marilene Nicolossi, 65.
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