Protesters for and against impeachment agitate Brasília

Split into camps pitched in the center of the federal capital, demonstrators for and against President Dilma Rousseff's ouster began this Saturday (Apr. 16) a marathon of protests to be staged until the outcome of the president's impeachment process in the Chamber of Deputies this Sunday.

Dozens of buses with protesters for and against impeachment are constantly arriving at both camps. Both sides are waiting for about 200,000 people to arrive this Sunday at the Ministries Esplanade, outside the grassy slope of Congress. The area was divided into two sides by a 2 meter-high steel wall and a large central corridor occupied by security staff.

In the pro-impeachment camp, mounted in the City Park, they were in an optimistic mood about the possibility of ousting Rousseff. They were planning to hold a vigil throughout the night in front of the National Congress building.

"With or without impeachment, resistance will continue," said businesswoman Dileta da Silva, camped in Brasília for 26 days and leader of a group called União Patriótica Nacional (which would translated as “National Patriotic Union”), one among about a dozen of other movements that camp on the area. Some of them call for military intervention.

On anti-impeachment side, they have attended the “Social Movements for Democracy” event this Saturday morning (Apr. 16). In central region of Brasília, protesters have gathered under a white tent since early morning.

They expected President Dilma Rousseff to give a speech, but minutes before the event, the presidency reported that she would meet with party leaders. Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attended the ceremony and gave a speech to 1,500 people, declaring that ousting a president without legal basis is a coup against democracy.

In addition to standing for the Workers' Party (PT) continuity in power, pro-Rousseff protesters claim for the democratization of the media, against cuts in social or education programs, and against tax increase.

"We do want an Educator Homeland and 10% of GDP [gross domestic product] for education," said Carina Vitral, president of the National Students' Union (UNE in the original acronym), referring to the government's slogan: Brasil, Pátria Educadora (which would translate as “Brazil, Educator Homeland”). The event ended at around 12pm, shouting "There will no be coup, there will be struggle."

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta

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