May 1, 2017

Poll shows former Brazilian leader Lula a favourite in 2018 vote

Brazil's ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva remains a favourite for the 2018 presidential election, according to a poll published Sunday, despite the five separate corruption trials he faces.

The Datafolha survey published in the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper showed Lula easily taking a first-round vote, winning 30 percent support from those polled. Two potential competitors were in second with 11 percent.

Current President Michel Temer - who has repeatedly said he will not run in 2018 - polled at just 2 percent.

Read more:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-brazil-politics-polls-idUKKBN17W0KD

May 1, 2017

Brazil police storm Congress over proposal to raise retirement age

Congressional police in riot gear used tear gas to drive back hundreds of members of federal police unions who tried to invade the Brazilian Congress on Tuesday to protest against a pension reform bill that would reduce their benefits.

The demonstrators broke glass doors before being pushed back in a violent clash that underscored the unpopularity of the pension reform President Michel Temer’s government is proposing to balance Brazil’s overdrawn public accounts.

The lower Chamber of Deputies, where debate on the bill will begin at committee level on Wednesday, said in a statement that 500 demonstrators, most of them off-duty police officers, tried to invade the building but were repelled with no injuries reported.

Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/19/brazil-police-storm-congress-over-proposal-to-raise-retirement-age

May 1, 2017

Brazil: Indigenous clash with police amid protest over land rights

Members of indigenous groups clashed with police in the Brazilian capital on Tuesday amid a protest over land rights in the Amazon, which activists say is in jeopardy under the current government.

Some 4,000 people gathered in front of the Congress building for what would have been a peaceful protest against the encroachment of their land by loggers and farmers, BBC reported. The protesters have said they plan to camp out all week in front of Congress, claiming the government of President Michel Temer is seeking to roll back protections in parts of the Amazon.

When protesters approached a ramp leading into Congress on Tuesday, police said they had to use force.

“The Indians did not comply with the agreement they made with police” on the accepted boundaries of the protest, according to a police statement. “They were threatening to invade Congress.”

According to Reuters, officers fired rubber bullets and tear gas while tribe members shot arrows in return. Some indigenous people suffered minor injuries, but no casualties have been reported.

Read more:
http://www.humanosphere.org/human-rights/2017/04/brazil-indigenous-clash-with-police-amid-protest-over-land-rights/

May 1, 2017

Brazil's Temer Sees Approval Rate Drop to 10 Percent

SAO PAULO —
A new poll shows the popularity of Brazilian President Michel Temer falling to just 10 percent.

The Instituto Ibope poll published on Friday also finds that 55 percent of Brazilians believe Temer's performance as president is either bad or terrible.

In December, Temer's approval was at 13 percent and his disapproval was at 46 percent.

Brazil's top electoral court next week will start deciding whether the ticket that elected Temer and former President Dilma Rousseff in 2014 should be annulled due to alleged illegal campaign financing. That could lead to his removal.

Source:
http://www.voanews.com/a/brazil-temer-approval-rating/3791560.html

April 30, 2017

35 Million-Strong Strike Against Temer's Neoliberal Reforms Brings Brazil to a Halt

Amid record levels of unemployment and a terribly unpopular government, unions and citizens from all walks of life are taking part in one of Brazil's biggest ever strikes.

Since early Friday morning, more than 35 million people in Brazil have been taking part in one of biggest general strikes in the country's history against President Michel Temer’s neoliberal reforms, bringing the country to a standstill.

The strike was largely organized by Unified Workers Central, or CUT, the largest union federation in Latin America, and the Workers Party of Brazil, former President Dilma Rousseff’s political party.

“Temer does not even want to negotiate," said Vagner Freitas, national CUT president. Freitas estimated that the strikes would break previous records with more than 35 million people participating by leaving their work.

In Brazil’s biggest city and economic hub, Sao Paulo, only one metro line was operating, 70 major routes were blocked off as was access to the city's major airport. Before daylight, a number of protesters clashed with police while trying to occupy a vacant building. Police were also seen firing tear gas to disperse protesters and at least 12 people were detained.

Similar scenes were also seen further South in Santos, where police reportedly used tear gas in an attempt to clear roads leading to the city's port. In the city of Goiânia in central Brazil, police were seen violently breaking up protesters, with one man being forcefully grabbed and another shown bleeding.

David Miranda, the first LGBTQ city councilor of Rio de Janeiro, was hit by a car during Friday's protests after setting up traffic cones to block vehicles. The car stopped in front of Miranda and suddenly accelerated, toppling him and another protester. Both demonstrators were not criticially hurt.

Read more:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Strike-Against-Temers-Neoliberal-Reforms-Brings-Brazil-to-a-Halt-20170427-0028.html