Good morning! Today, we explain how street protests against the government could impact the political landscape. And the risks for Brazil’s economic recovery.
Anti-Bolsonaro groups drop distancing and protest
For more than a year, opponents of President Jair Bolsonaro struggled with the dilemma of taking to the streets to increase pressure on the government while also criticizing the president’s disregard for social distancing and Covid restrictions. On Saturday, many decided to embrace the contradiction and stage massive protests against Mr. Bolsonaro. Protests took place in over 200 cities across 24 states, with a reported 420,000 people.
- Many left-wing parties and trade unions backed the protests, but with varying levels of official involvement. In many cities, demonstrators said Mr. Bolsonaro’s actions have made the coronavirus even more deadly in Brazil, meaning the struggle to remove him from office is worth the risk.
- Leading polls for the 2022 election, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was not involved in the demonstrations in any capacity, to avoid being accused of inciting gatherings.
Change of tune. So far, pot-banging protests had been the only way voters voiced their disgruntlement with the government. While they make for good sound bites, they lack the...