Hundreds of Thousands Protest Against Coup Attempts in Brazil

Edited by Ivan Martínez
2015-08-21 12:39:10

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Brasilia, August 21 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Almost one million people from all Brazilian states protested on Thursday the attempts to impeach President Dilma Rousseff.

Marches were joined by Brazil's leading social movements, including the Movement of Landless Farmers (MST) and the United Workers' Union (CUT), the largest union in the country and in Latin America.

Organizers made it clear that marches were in support of democracy and against growing impeachment calls from the country’s right wing. Political parties, including the left-wing opposition Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), joined the march.

According to O Globo newspaper, at least 876,000 people participated in the demonstrations across the country. 
       
A common theme in the marches was the rejection of Finance Minister Joaquim Levy, a former IMF economist, who has pushed forward austerity policies cutting social programs. 

Speakers and marchers also targeted Eduardo Cunha, the head of Congress and former government ally who has been leading calls for impeachment. 

The Attorney General's Office officially charged Cunha on Thursday of money laundering and corruption. The lawmaker allegedly received US$ 5 million from the Petrobras fraud scheme. Cunha, who was under investigation, had claimed that  accusations against him were politically motivated and thus broke off from his party's alliance with the government. 

In Sao Paulo, social movements, worker unions and political parties gathered outside the Lula Institute to express their solidarity with former President Lula da Silva, who some are trying to link to the Petrobras scandal.


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