Brazil stops to wait for vote on Rousseff's impeachment request

Brazil stopped this Sunday (Apr. 17) to watch the session in the Chamber of Deputies vote on accepting President Dilma Rousseff's impeachment request.

In the afternoon, the electronic vote board on the wall of the chamber's floor registered that 504 deputies, out of the 513, were attending the session. While parties leaders alternated in the gallery addressing on the vote of their respective parties, lawmakers for and against the impeachment shouted "There will no coup" and "Impeachment now."

Rio de Janeiro

Three giant screens were set by pro-impeachment demonstrators on Copacabana beach showing the session of the Chamber of Deputies voting on moving forward proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff. When deputies against impeachment speak, muffled voices shout from the crowd "Down with Workers' Party". When deputies supporting Rousseff's impeachment speak, they are applauded by demonstrators.

Retired journalist Janaína Sousa is confident about approving the impeachment. "This was the first stage of cleaning-up, then we continue cleaning so that the country can really have a chance. While we have thefts, this country is not going to advance."

Public relations manager Edmir Simas, 52, also believes that the impeachment is the first step to eliminate corruption from the country. "First we put out the fire and then we rebuild our country. And down with Cunha. He will be the next to be ousted," he said, referring to Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, being probed by Operation Car Wash.

Earlier Copacaba beach was the stage for demonstrations against the impeachment when more than 20 singers of Brazilian funk alternated themselves with representatives from social movements, artists, and judges.

"It's the funk music against the coup," said Rômulo Costa, founder of Furação 2000 funk music group and organizer of the event, attended by young people, residents of communities, located near Copacabana, including the following communities: Pavão-Pavãozinho, Chapéu Mangueira and Rocinha, Vidigal, and residents of Baixada Fluminense.

São Paulo

In Sao Paulo, protesters against ousting President Dilma Rousseff met in the square of Vale do Anhangabaú, in São Paulo downtown, where a large screen was also set for protesters to watch the vote. They have also set a stage where debates are promoted and musical concerts are performed. In the crowd, there are groups playing percussion instruments. Raising flags of trade unions and social movements, several participants are dressed in red and hold banners and stickers, claiming that the proceedings against Rousseff are a coup. "They're ousting her to elect whoever they they want, without new elections," complained William Nadoni, 22.

For the young man, there is no reason for the president to leave Palácio do Planalto, the presidential office. "I'm here for democracy that is at risk with this coup being mounted. Rousseff is squeaky-clean, performed no illegal act," the young man pointed out. He came from Interlagos, the South Zone of São Paulo, even though he is not a government's supporter.

In the view of political scientist Daliane Saroba, 38, suspicions about the deputies leading the impeachment proceedings are one of the main problems in the process. She said it is not confident about the voting outcome this evening. "I believe she will not escape," she declared.

In the Paulista Avenue, usually closed for the traffic of cars on Sundays, demonstrators pro-Rousseff's impeachment, unlike what happened in previous protests, in which all the avenue was taken by the crowd, protests today occupied only one block between São Paulo Art Museum and the building of São Paulo State Industry Federation

Most people are dressed in the colors of the Brazilian flag: green, yellow, blue and white. Travel consultant Márcia Guzardi, 60, explained the reasons she was there: "We have to believe. I trust in my country. I believe that with a lot of people together, we will be able to change. I'm struggling for a better country and not for a party," she explained.

Meanwhile, for lawyer Rafael Garcia, 31, one of the worst setbacks is unemployment. "People are suffering without security, health, and housing, and especially due to the rise in unemployment rate, affecting ten million [of people]. And behind every unemployment, there is a family. Companies are bankrupting, the US dollar is close to R$4.00. We have lost Petrobras and we are embroiled in the world's greatest scandal of corruption. This has to change," he vented.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta