Widespread protest across the country as Lula appointed Chief of Staff

The demonstrations began after a recording of a wiretapped

Published on 17/03/2016 - 11:35 By Mariana Tokarnia reports from Agência Brasil - Brasília

Brasília - Protesto contra a nomeação do ex-presidente Lula como ministro da Casa Civil, em frente ao Palácio do Planalto (Wilson Dias/Agência Brasil)

Brasília - Protest in front of the presidential Palácio do Planalto against former president Lula's appointment as Chief of Staff Wilson Dias/Agência Brasil

A casserole and horn-honking protest took place on Wednesday evening (Mar. 16) in several Brazilian cities after former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was appointed Chief of Staff. The protest began after a Federal Police-wiretapped recording of a conversation between Lula and President Dilma Rouseff in which they discussed his appointment gained widespread media coverage. The opposition viewed Lula's appointment as a ploy to move the investigations about him out of the jurisdiction of the broader Petrobras probe known as Operation Car Wash, which is presided over by Judge Sérgio Moro. Pot-banging has become common recently as a form of anti-government protest.

On social media, people were invited to express their dissatisfaction with the government by joining the protest banging pots and pans or honking.

In Brasília, police reports about 5,000 people gathered in front of the presidential office, Palácio do Planalto. Police stepped up patrolling of the street leading to Palácio da Alvorada, the official presidential residence.

In São Paulo, on Avenida Paulista, protesters crowded along at least four blocks. They were carrying a large yellow and green flag. The building of the Industrial Federation of São Paulo State (FIESP) was lit yellow and green with a black banner that read, “Resign Now”.

Photos and videos of the demonstrations in Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, and São Paulo were circulated online.

In the Chamber of Deputies, congressmen protested by shouting “Resign” calls. Many used the web to call popular street protests.

The hashtag #OcupaBrasilia ("Occupy Brasília") topped Brazil's trending topics.


Translated by Mayra Borges


Fonte: Widespread protest across the country as Lula appointed Chief of Staff

Edition: Jorge Wamburg / Olga Bardawil

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