Unrest, protests expected to continue in Brazil
Protests are expected to continue in Brazil after promises of better public services failed to satisfy residents, Reuters reported Thursday.
- A military police from the special unit Chope shoots with a tear gas gun late on June 19, 2013 to disperse protestors during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- A military police (C, back) from the special unit Chope runs with a tear gas gun late on June 19, 2013 to disperse protestors during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- A protester is arrested by military police from the special unit Chope late on June 19, 2013 during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- A protester tries to prevent another demonstrator from setting a bus on fire late on June 19, 2013 during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators overturn a bus late on June 19, 2013 in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- Military police from the special unit Chope advance toward protesters late on June 19, 2013 in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators stand on a statue late on June 19, 2013 during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- A demonstrator waves the Brazilian flag late on June 19, 2013 during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- A demonstrator holds a flag late on June 19, 2013 during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- Military police from the special unit Chope arrest a demonstrator on June 19, 2013 during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- A man holding a Brazilian national flag stands in front of a bus during a protest demanding improvements be made to the public transport system, at the bus station in the centre of Brasilia June 19, 2013. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- A demonstrator holds a flag late on June 19, 2013 during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators build a barricade late on June 19, 2013 during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- Students,and members of the “Free Pass” movement walk down a street during a protest demanding improvements be made to the public transport system, at the bus station in the centre of Brasilia June 19, 2013. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- Protestors face the police on June 19, 2013 during clashes in the center of Niteroi, 10 kms from Rio de Janeiro. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- Protesters march in Fortaleza, Northern Brazil, on June 19, 2013 taking part in what is now called the ‘Tropical Spring’ against corruption and price hikes. (Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)
- Young demonstrators march in Fortaleza, Northern Brazil, on June 19, 2013 during a protest of what is now called the ‘Tropical Spring’ against corruption and price hikes. (Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)
- Young surfers wearing masks march in Fortaleza, Northern Brazil, on June 19, 2013 during a protest of what is now called the ‘Tropical Spring’ against corruption and price hikes. (Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)
- Protesters march in Fortaleza, Northern Brazil, on June 19, 2013 taking part in what is now called the ‘Tropical Spring’ against corruption and price hikes. (Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)
- Students protest in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 18, 2013, against a recent rise in public bus and subway fare from 3 to 3.20 reais (1.50 USD). (Daniel Guimaraes/AFP/Getty Images)
- Unidentified people carry a tv set during clashes in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 18, 2013 against a recent rise in public bus and subway fare from 3 to 3.20 reais (1.50 USD). (Daniel Guimaraens/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the lobby of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (ALERJ), in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 18, 2013, showing furniture vandalized by demonstrators on the eve. Rio police fired tear gas and rubber bullets in clashes with protesting youths early Tuesday, after tens of thousands rallied in major Brazilian cities against the huge costs of hosting the 2014 World Cup. (Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images)
- Students take part in a demonstration at Praca da Se, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 18, 2013, against a recent rise in public bus and subway fare from 3 to 3.20 reais (1.50 USD). (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- People gather at the September 7 square on June 18, 2013 in Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais. (Douglas Magno/AFP/Getty Images)
- A vandalized press car from TV Record burns during a student demonstration in front of the City Hall in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 18, 2013, against a recent rise in public bus and subway fare from 3 to 3.20 reais (1.50 USD). (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- Riot polce take positions during a protest in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 18, 2013 against a recent rise in public bus and subway fare from 3 to 3.20 reais (1.50 USD). (Daniel Guimaraens/AFP/Getty Images)
- Students take part in a demonstration at Praca da Se, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 18, 2013, against a recent rise in public bus and subway fare from 3 to 3.20 reais (1.50 USD). (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- Students take part in a demonstration at Praca da Se, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 18, 2013, against a recent rise in public bus and subway fare from 3 to 3.20 reais (1.50 USD). (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- A student prepares a barbecue on the street near the City Hall in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 18, 2013, against a recent rise in public bus and subway fare from 3 to 3.20 reais (1.50 USD). President Dilma Rousseff vowed Tuesday to listen to youths staging Brazil’s biggest protests in 20 years in an outpouring of anger over the huge cost of staging events like the World Cup. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators shout anti-government slogans behind a banner, which reads as ‘violence’, during one of many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Sao Paulo June 17, 2013. Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Brazil’s biggest cities on Monday in a growing protest that is tapping into widespread anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption. (Alex Almeida/Reuters)
- Demonstrators shout anti-government slogans during one of many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Sao Paulo June 17, 2013. (Alex Almeida/Reuters)
- A demonstrator argues with police during a protest against the Confederation’s Cup and the government of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia June 17, 2013. (Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters)
- A demonstrator with the Brazilian flag protests against the Confederation’s Cup and the government of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia June 17, 2013. (Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters)
- Demonstrators march toward the Mineirao Stadium, where Nigeria was playing Tahiti in the Confederations Cup, during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Belo Horizonte June 17, 2013. (Pedro Vilela/Reuters)
- A demonstrator with the Brazilian flag protests against the Confederation’s Cup and the government of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia June 17, 2013. (Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters)
- Demonstrators face riot police during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Belo Horizonte June 17, 2013. As many as 200,000 demonstrators marched through the streets of Brazil’s biggest cities on Monday in a swelling wave of protest tapping into widespread anger at poor public services, police violence and government corruption. (Pedro Vilela/Reuters)
- Demonstrators display a banner during a protest against the Confederation’s Cup and the government of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia June 17, 2013. (Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters)
- An injured demonstrator sits in a police van after he was arrested during a protest against the Confederation’s Cup and the government of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia June 17, 2013. (Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters)
- A youngster throws a stone during a protest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 17, 2013. (Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images)
- Students march during a protest at the Ponte Estaiada, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 17, 2013. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- Students march during a protest at the Ponte Estaiada, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 17, 2013. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- Demonstrators shout anti-government slogans during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Sao Paulo June 17, 2013. (Alex Almeida/Reuters)
- Demonstrators yell anti-government slogans during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Belem, Para State, June 17, 2013. (Paulo Santos/Reuters)
- Students light a bonfire during a protest in fron of the Government Palace, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 17, 2013. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- Students attempt to enter the Government Palace, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 17, 2013. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- A burning car is seen in front of the Congress State during a demonstration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 17, 2013. (Pablo Porcuincula/AFP/Getty Images)
- A burning car is seen in front of the Congress State during a demonstration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 17, 2013. (Pablo Porcuincula/AFP/Getty Images)
- A burning car is seen in front of the Congress State during a demonstration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 17, 2013. (Pablo Porcuincula/AFP/Getty Images)
- Students hold a protest outside the Government Palace in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 17, 2013. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- Students attempt to enter the Government Palace, in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 17, 2013. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- A bus is vandalized during a demonstration by students in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 17, 2013, against a recent rise in public bus and subway fares. (Miguel Schincariol/AFP/Getty Images)
- A demonstrator celebrates by a burning car in downtown Rio de Janeiro June 17, 2013. (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)
- A car burns during a protest in downtown Rio de Janeiro June 17, 2013. (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)
- A car burns during a protest in downtown Rio de Janeiro June 17, 2013. (Sergio Moraes/Reuters)
- Demonstrators protest against the Confederation’s Cup and the government of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff outside the national congress in Brasilia June 17, 2013. (Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters)
- A demonstrator holds a sign during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Sao Paulo June 17, 2013.(Nacho Doce/Reuters)
- Police arrest demonstrators for vandalism after one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Porto Alegre June 17, 2013. (Gustavo Vara/Reuters)
- A demonstrator holds a sign during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Sao Paulo June 17, 2013. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)
- Police arrest youths for vandalism during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Belem, Para State, June 17, 2013. (Paulo Santos/Reuters)
- Demonstrators march during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Belem, Para State, June 17, 2013. (Paulo Santos/Reuters)
- Demonstrators yell anti-government slogans during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Belem, Para State, June 17, 2013. (Paulo Santos/Reuters)
- Demonstrators hold up signs and yell anti-government slogans during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities outside the City Hall in Porto Alegre June 17, 2013. (Gustavo Vara/Reuters)
- A police officer uses pepper spray on demonstrators protesting against the Confederation’s Cup and the government of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff outside the national congress in Brasilia June 17, 2013. (Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters)
- Demonstrators yell anti-government slogans during one of the many protests around Brazil’s major cities in Sao Paulo June 17, 2013. (Alex Almeida/Reuters)
RELATED
Brazil braces for continued protests nationwide
By Paulo Prada, Reuters
4:23 p.m. EDT, June 20, 2013
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Protesters are expected to flood more than 100 Brazilian cities and surround two international soccer matches later on Thursday, as lower transport fares and promises of better public services fail to stem the tide of discontent in Latin America’s biggest country.
After more than a week of the largest protests here in over two decades, demonstrators show no signs of letting up. Though the transport fare hikes that sparked the unrest were rescinded in Brazil’s two biggest cities on Wednesday, demonstrators by the hundreds of thousands promised to take to the streets in locales as diverse as the Amazon capital of Manaus to the prosperous southern city of Florianopolis.
The persistence of the protests reflects what has become a generalized host of complaints about high taxes, inflation, corruption and poor public services, from hospitals and schools to roads and police forces. Using an ongoing international soccer tournament as a backdrop, they are also denouncing the more than $26 billion of public money that will be spent on the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, two events meant to showcase a modern, developed Brazil.
Big demonstrations are expected in Rio de Janeiro and the northeastern city of Salvador around games of the Confederations Cup, a test run before next year’s World Cup.
The unrest comes as Brazil, after nearly a decade-long economic boom in which the country’s profile soared on the global stage, enters a period of uncertainty. Economic growth of less than one percent a year, annual inflation of 6.5 percent and a loss of appetite for Brazilian assets among international investors have quickly deflated what had been a feel-good era for Brazil. Brazil’s currency, the real, dropped to a four-year low on Thursday, trading as weak as 2.275 per U.S. dollar. The country’s benchmark stock market index, the Bovespa, also hit a four-year low.
CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
Protests are nothing new in Latin America.
Brazil’s ruling Workers’ Party itself has its roots in convulsive demonstrations by the country’s labor movement 30 years ago. And the ongoing demonstrations, which have been mostly non-violent, are made up primarily of middle-class, well-educated Brazilians who are not the bulk of the electoral base for President Dilma Rousseff.
Still, the protests have shaken the once-solid ground under Rousseff, whose approval ratings were among the highest of any leader worldwide until inflation and other economic woes began eroding her poll numbers in recent weeks.
Rousseff and the party have praised the demonstrations and embraced their pleas as their own. Until recently, though, her play book relied on telling Brazilians that they had never had it so good.
With little more than a year to go before presidential and gubernatorial elections, the unrest is forcing incumbents and traditional political parties to reconsider their strategies.
The decision to cut transportation fares illustrates what many analysts consider a reactive and contradictory response by a ruling class caught off guard.
“Were they wrong before or are they wrong now?” asked Carlos Melo, a political scientist at Insper, a business school in Sao Paulo, noting what had been a steadfast refusal to reverse a fare hike.
Yet protesters, until now a disparate and localized collective of organizers herding the throngs through social media, would have to evolve and consolidate before they become an electoral force in themselves.
Unlike the protests of the Arab Spring, or the more recent unrest in Turkey, the demonstrations in Brazil aren’t directed at any one political party or a single politician. The grab-bag nature of their causes, and wholesale rejection of the political class, gives them few traditional vehicles to upend the established order.
(Additional reporting by Eduardo Simões; Editing by Todd Benson and Leslie Gevirtz)