Demonstrations Demand Ousting of President Temer and New Elections

05/19/2017 - 13h41

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FROM BRASÍLIA

FROM CURITIBA

FROM RIO

FROM SÃO PAULO

Protesters occupied the streets of some of the main Brazilian cities on Wednesday, May 18, to demand the ousting of President Michel Temer (PMDB) and defend a new direct presidential election.

In São Paulo, protesters occupied one of the lanes of Paulista Avenue Consolação-bound in front Masp museum. Cars with loudspeakers and flags of political parties such as PSOL and PSTU could be seen at the event.

Some of them went to the president's cabinet – located on the same avenue – to protest. Representatives of work unions such as CUT and CTB also attended the events. Some of them chanted "Out with Maia" in a reference to the president of the Lower House, Rodrigo Maia (DEMRJ), the first in the presidential succession line.

Avener Prado/Folhapress Protesters packed Paulista Avenue

The Povo Sem Medo Front, comprised of some 30 social movements, called protests in Brazilian cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, Recife, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Brasília, Porto Alegre and São Paulo.

In Rio, protestors gathered around Candelária church, in the city center, and marched to Cinelândia neighborhood. Holding flags of CUT and political parties such as PC do B, PCB and CTB, the protestors demanded new elections in their posters and shirts. They also demanded the impeachment of the state's current governor, Luiz Fernando Pezão (PMDB).

In Brasília, demonstrators protested near the congress and chanted phrases like "if you push Temer, he will fall," and also demanded a new presidential election.

In Curitiba, groups of students and union representatives met to chant "this congress is impossible. Out with Temer, new elections now." Hundreds of people attended the event and help posters calling a general strike.

Groups that had been on opposite sides during the demonstrations prior to the impeachment of DilmaRousseff (Workers' Party), in 2016, called new acts demanding President Temer's ousting to be held on Sunday, May 21. The Vem Pra Rua movement, which had been in favor of Rousseff's impeachment, and the Brasil Popular and Povo Sem Medo fronts, that had been against Rousseff's removal from office, are likely to protest on Paulista avenue in São Paulo. Both say, however, there will be separate demonstrations.

Translated by THOMAS MATHEWSON

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