Government regards protests as within democratic normalcy

The anti-government demonstrations on Sunday (Aug. 16) were regarded by the government as a regular part of democratic normality, Edinho Silva, the head of the Communications Secretariat of the Presidency (SECOM), said in a statement.

The note was released shortly after the start of President Dilma Rousseff's meeting with several ministers at Palácio da Alvorada, the official presidential residence, to discuss the events of the day.

Besides Edinho Silva, the Chief of Staff (Aloizio Mercadante), the Minister of Justice (José Eduardo Cardozo) and the Minister of Defense (Jaques Wagner) also attended the meeting.

Translated by Mayra Borges