Sunday, October 03, 2021

Mass Protests in Brazil Call for Jair Bolsonaro’s Impeachment

THE GUARDIAN: Crowds parade through cities as polling shows president’s ratings sinking to new depths

Protesters in Rio de Janeiro were addressed by politicians calling for a united opposition to Jair Bolsonaro.Photograph: António Lacerda/EPA

Tens of thousands of protesters have returned to the streets of Brazil’s biggest cities to demand Jair Bolsonaro’s impeachment, as a poll showed the Brazilian president’s ratings had plumbed new depths.

Huge crowds paraded through downtown Rio on Saturday to voice their outrage at Bolsonaro’s response to a Covid outbreak that has killed nearly 600,000 people and dealt a heavy blow to the South American country’s economy.

“We have come to shout at the top of our voices: Bolsonaro’s place is behind bars,” Carlos Lupi, the president of Brazil’s Democratic Labour party, told thousands of flag-waving demonstrators who had gathered outside Rio’s municipal chamber under a ferocious midday sun.

“This crook who uses the Bible to trick the people … This worm! This wretch! He must go to jail!” Lupi bellowed to cheers of approval. » | Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro | Saturday, October 2, 2021