PSDB to take part in anti-government demonstrations on Sunday

The Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) announced Wednesday (Mar 11) its support for the demonstrations against President Rousseff's government, to be staged on Sunday (15) in several cities across the country. In a note, the largest opposition party in Congress adds that its participation will take place “through its activists, sympathizers, and several of its leaders, alongside Brazilians from all regions of the country.” The statement, signed by PSDB head Aécio Neves and the party's leading representatives in Congress, also describes the upcoming demonstrations as “a movement detached from any individual political party which arises as a result of the most legitimate feeling of indignation shared by Brazilian society.”

In the text, PSDB goes on to say that the protests are legitimate in a “fully democratic” country, and that freedom of thought is a constitutional right. “PSDB defends the right of citizens to  free expression of opinion, and therefore supports peaceful and democratic demonstrations to be staged on March 15 all throughout the country.”

At no point in the text does the party mention the calls for Dilma Rousseff's impeachment, an idea supported by some of the groups organizing the demonstrations. “PSDB does not approve of the actions of those who, for the benefit of their own parties, attack and distort the right to free expression and try to convince the population that criticism against political leaders should be mixed with attempts on the institutional order and the state of law.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira