Brazilians take to streets in support for Car Wash probe

They also call for an end to the special jurisdiction privileges

Published on 27/03/2017 - 14:45 By Agência Brasil - Brasília

São Paulo - Movimentos sociais fazem manifestação em apoio à Lava Jato, pelo fim do foro privilegiado, contra o voto em lista fechada e contra o aumento do Fundo Partidário, na Avenida Paulista (Rovena Rosa/Agênci

Demonstrators gathered on Paulista avenue, in the central part of São Paulo city. A 100-meter banner reading “End special jurisdiction privileges” was stretched across the roadRovena Rosa/Agência Brasil

Demonstrators took to the streets in several Brazilian cities to protest against corruption and show their support for the Car Wash graft probe on Sunday (March 26). In many state capitals, demonstrators also protested against the so-called closed-list voting, a system under discussion in Congress in which electors cast a vote to a party, not its individual politicians.

Dressed in Brazil's national colors, the protesters also called against politicians' special jurisdiction privileges and corporate donations to election campaigns.

According to the organizers—the Vem Pra Rua (“Take to the Street”) movement and the Movimento Brasil Livre (“Free Brazil Movement”)—the demonstrations, which were organized on social media, had been planned to take place in 130 cities.

São Paulo

Demonstrators gathered on Paulista avenue, in the central part of São Paulo city. A 100-meter banner reading “End special jurisdiction privileges” was stretched across the road.

“We are not opposed to a political class—we need politicians in a democracy, but we want political parties and politicians who are really concerned with the population rather than their own interests as they are today,” said Rogério Checker, coordinator of Vem Pra Rua.

According to Kim Kataguiri, leader of the Movimento Brasil Livre (MBL), funding political campaigns with public money means everyone is required to fund campaigns even in times of economic crisis. “We also oppose closed-list voting, because they limit the voters' choice to a party rather than their preferred candidates,” he said.

Sandra Salatini, a housewife, was at the demonstration with her husband and her 16-year-old daughter, to show her dissatisfaction with Brazilian politics. “We can no longer quietly put up with it, we must take action because we don't trust any politicians. All they do is pass laws to protect their own interests and shield themselves [from prosecution].”

Minas Gerais

In Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, there were protests against closed-list voting and the attempts in Congress to pardon illegal campaign funding, and against increasing the amount of public funding that goes into the parties' campaigns.

According to Kátia Pegos, a doctor who leads Vem Pra Rua in Minas Gerais state, lawmakers have been on a move to go unpunished by the Car Wash anti-corruption probe. “They want to protect their special jurisdiction privileges and are now conspiring to pass new laws to introduce closed-list voting, which would be a great setback for a country that once took to the streets to demand direct elections. You'd vote for the party, and the party would put the same old politicians in power, including many of those facing investigations.”

Regarding the pension system reform, the movements have not taken a firm stance. Vem Pra Rua thinks reforms are needed, but the population should be actively engaged in the process. “We can no longer afford the privileges for the political, judicial, and military classes. The rules should apply to all. Also we think having to contribute [towards the Social Security system] for 49 years before being eligible to full retirement benefits is too long,” Pegos said.

Rio de Janeiro

To show their support for the Car Wash probe and call for an end to impunity and special jurisdiction privileges enjoyed by politicians, protesters marched along the beachfront avenue in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. Adriana Balthazar, a lawyer who is the spokeswoman for Vem Pra Rua in the state, said the movement also opposes closed-list voting and proposals to increase public funding for party campaigns, “all of which are things that get in the way of change. The jurisdiction privileges only serve to keep power in the hands of the current groups [in Congress],” she said.

Brasília

In the national capital, protesters gathered in the Esplanade of Ministries. Among their main grievances was the closed-list voting, a system many politicians advocate should be introduced in the 2018 general elections. Federal Judge Sérgio Moro and the federal prosecutor leading the Car Wash investigations, Deltan Dallagnol, were also remembered by protesters. The protest wound up with a mock burial of lawmakers that were referred to by protesters as representatives of the “old politics”. Mock gravestones were placed in front of the Congress building reflecting pool.


Translated by Mayra Borges


Fonte: Brazilians take to streets in support for Car Wash probe

Edition: Carolina Pimentel / Nira Foster

Latest news