Marchers in Brazil Target Re-elected President
Angry demonstrators took to Sao Paulo's streets Saturday to push for the ouster of President Dilma Rousseff, with some charging that she should be impeached.
An estimated 2,500 people marched through the country's sprawling industrial and financial hub, frustrated with her re-election to a new term amid critics' concerns about her government's alleged role in potentially allowing or enabling corruption.
Many of the marchers, summoned by social media, shouted "Dilma, Get Out" and "PT (Workers Party) Out."
"We are here to push for Dilma to be impeached. And to show that we want the Workers Party out," said teacher Maria Lucia Monteiro, 61.
"We want them out -- they should leave power."
Last week's vote showed huge support for the incumbent in the impoverished northeast, where millions receive benefits from huge welfare programs Rousseff's PT has rolled out over the past decade.
The programs have helped lift out of extreme poverty some 40 million people, who formed the bedrock of Rousseff's support as she saw off business world favorite Aecio Neves.
In the more prosperous south, however, many of those who backed Neves to end 12 years of PT rule blame northern voters for Rousseff's narrow win.
And many southerners accuse northerners of closing their eyes to the ruling party's failings, as Rousseff battles a scandal of alleged kickbacks for political allies at state-owned oil giant Petrobras.
In her first term, "Dilma got the country in debt. And she got the economy into recession. That's why I am here," said economist Marlon Laube, 31.
"In addition, I am sure there was fraud in these elections. I have never been out on the street to protest. But now, here I am."
Source: Agence France Presse
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