Supporters rally to save Brazil’s President Rousseff from impeachment

[Judi Lynn]

Supporters rally to save Brazil’s President Rousseff from impeachment

01/04 02:02 CET

| updated 018:28 mn ago

- video at link -

With a political crisis threatening to topple Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff, thousands of her supporters rallied to her side in Rio and 17 other cities, as the embattled leader fights to survive a push to have her impeached.

Efforts to oust her have been growing amid allegations of corruption and account fiddling, budget irregularities and illegal campaign financing but her supporters see it as an attempt at a coup.

One woman at the protest agrees for the need for an end to corruption but “not removing the government, that would be a step back.”

Another supporter at the demo said that an impeachment would lead to civil unrest, saying that there is no legal basis for it, “so if it happens is something forced, and a forced (impeachment) is a coup. More and more each day we are in favour of consolidating the democracy.”

More:
http://www.euronews.com/2016/04/01/supporters-rally-to-save-brazil-s-president-rousseff-from-impeachment/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Brazilian president receives more support against impeachment

Brazilian president receives more support against impeachment

Source: Xinhua 2016-04-01 11:28:57

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Several prominent artists and intellectuals who oppose the impeachment proceedings against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff publicly voiced support for her on Thursday.

They did that during a ceremony held at the government's headquarters in Brasilia, reports said.

Some of them, like actress Leticia Sabatella, said even though they do not approve Rousseff's administration, they believe the opposition is staging a coup to take her down. Rousseff thanked them.

Calls to impeach Rousseff first broke out last year after she was accused of manipulating government accounts to hide the depth of Brazil's recession.

On March 17, lawmakers launched an impeachment commission, which is expected to begin deliberations next Tuesday before making a recommendation in mid-April.

The president has repeatedly said that the fiscal manipulations she is accused of are common practice in the country and previous federal administrations resorted to them as well.

More:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-04/01/c_135243173.htm

[Judi Lynn]

2. Brazilians march to support Rousseff against 'coup'

Brazilians march to support Rousseff against 'coup'

By Eugenia Logiuratto (AFP) 7 hours ago in Politics .

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's fight against impeachment gathered speed when tens of thousands of people marched nationwide to oppose what they said was a "coup."

The rallies late Thursday were part of a concerted attempt by Rousseff to turn the tide ahead of an impeachment vote over her alleged manipulation of government accounts to disguise the depth of Brazil's recession during her 2014 reelection. Further boosting Rousseff, her chief ally in the spiraling political crisis -- fiery ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva -- won a major court battle that removes him from the jurisdiction of a crusading anti-corruption judge.

The peaceful demonstrators, many waving the red flags of Rousseff's Workers' Party, gathered in 31 cities, including Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and northern centers like Recife.

The Globo news site quoted police estimates for total turnout at more than 110,000, while organizers claimed nearly 600,000. At one of the larger rallies, in Brasilia, police told AFP that at least 25,000 to 30,000 people marched.

More:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/brazilians-demonstrate-against-impeachment/article/461678#ixzz44YSHV0k6

LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141398918

[MisterP]

3. it's a "paper coup" like in Turkey '97 or Paraguay '12

[Judi Lynn]

4. Yep. They struggle to be able to carry it off without being called on it, to avoid lashback.

They think they are succeeding, but time will tell, because the problems the people want solved or removed altogether are going to be dealt with, one way or the other.

The 1% needs to watch its back always, because it won't get away with it, in the end. It isn't following a formula built to win, only to pretend to win.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

5. What do you think should happen when evidence that a president is corrupt comes to light? N.T.