Brazil: Why do Latin American protests so often call for impeachment?

Large-scale popular protests are often lauded as a positive sign in Brazil, which suffered through 21 years of dictatorship. But the growing pressure on Rousseff and calls for her ouster are raising concerns about potential political upheaval and the strength of Brazil’s 30-year-old democracy.

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As Brazil faces a struggling economy and one of the largest corruption scandals in its history, people are growing increasingly impatient with the person they say is ultimately responsible: President Dilma Rousseff.

On Sunday, tens of thousands of Brazilians spilled into the street in protest. In Sao Paulo, citizens toted bright yellow placards reading, “Impeachment now.” In Rio’s Copacabana neighborhood, protesters marching along the beach carried banners comparing Brazil to communist Cuba – and perhaps more ominously, some called for military action.

 

To read more, please visit: Christian Science Monitor

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