Anti-government rallies were reported from at least 20 of the 26 states, reported the news portal “G1”. The organizers said there had been demonstrations in around 200 cities.
Between the Amazon state of Roraima in the north, where many indigenous people live, and the Rio Grande do Sul, which is dominated by German immigrants, the demonstrators demanded, among other things, the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro, more vaccines against the coronavirus and jobs in times of the pandemic. On display were banners and banners with inscriptions such as “Bolsonaro out” and “Bolsonaro genocide”.
“Genocide” is written on posters with the likeness of President Bolsonaro at the rally in Rio de Janeiro
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Alliance against Bolsonaro
Social movements and trade unions called for the protests as part of their nationwide campaign against Bolsonaro. Around 20 parties, including the left workers’ party PT and the conservative PSDB and DEM, took part in the demonstrations, according to “G1”, so that observers also rated them as a test for the alliance against Bolsonaro.
In Rio de Janeiro, the possible presidential candidate Ciro Gomes took part in a rally. Later, according to local media, he also wanted to appear at a demonstration in São Paulo.
Former Präsident Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
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Lula holds back
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is probably Bolsonaro’s fiercest opponent in the running for the presidency in next year’s election, did not appear at any of the protest events. According to a survey by the Datafolho Institute in mid-September, Lula was clearly ahead of the polls: 44 percent of those questioned would vote against him, while incumbent Bolsonaro only got 26 percent.
The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira, is also criticized by many Brazilians. The demonstrators called him an “accomplice” because he persistently refuses to accept any of the nearly 100 requests for Bolsonaro’s impeachment. Only then could proceedings be opened against the president. But Lira is considered a loyal ally of Bolsonaro.
Corona-Leugner Bolsonaro
The right-wing populist Bolsonaro played down the corona virus from the start and rejected protective measures and restrictions. He also doubts the sense of vaccinations and has emphasized several times that he has not yet been vaccinated against Corona. A parliamentary committee of inquiry into his government’s corona crisis management is running.
With almost 600,000 corona deaths, Brazil is the worst affected country in the world after the USA. More than 21.5 million infections were registered, but experts assume a high number of unreported cases.
Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga (archive)
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Health minister fell ill with corona
Meanwhile, it became known that Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga tested positive for the corona virus again after a business trip with President Bolsonaro to New York. Queiroga shared on Twitter that he has no symptoms and will be back soon.
The health minister had participated with Bolsonaro in the UN general debate and was also at the UN headquarters in the US east coast metropolis. Another member of the delegation had previously tested positive.
President Bolsonaro (3rd from left) and Health Minister Queiroga (5th from left) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (September 19, 2021)
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This also had an aftermath for Bolsonaro. The Brazilian UN delegation was supposed to be in isolation for 14 days, Bolsonaro and other members of the delegation remained in quarantine for five days after returning to Brazil. Among other things, his son, the MP Eduardo Bolsonaro, his wife and little daughter reported positive results in social media tests in the past week.
mak / ack (dpa, afpe, rtre)
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