Calls for Lula-protege Rousseff’s ousting reached fever pitch on Sunday when an estimated 3 million people took to the streets of Brazilian cities to demand an end to corruption.
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Datafolha says that, in São Paulo alone, some 500,000 people attended the event – the biggest political act ever registered in the city, surpassing even the largest demonstration of Diretas Já in 1984.
And former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, an able negotiator and longtime ally of the PMDB, might join Rousseff’s government and help soothe strained relations.
The impeachment case rests on allegations that Rousseff’s government illegally manipulated accounts to boost public spending during her 2014 re-election campaign.
But the President, who once was Lula da Silva’s chief of staff and energy minister, told reporters Friday she had no plans to resign.
Prosecutors said a senator charged in a huge graft investigation centered on state oil company Petrobras had accused Rousseff of sending a powerful cabinet minister to try to buy his silence.
But several top politicians turned out, including Aecio Neves, the opposition politician who narrowly lost to Rousseff in the 2013 presidential run-off election, and Sao Paulo state Gov. Geraldo Alckmin.
The protestors marched in more than 200 cities on Sunday, carrying placards, banners and balloons reading “Dilma Out, PT Out” in reference to President Dilma Rousseff and the ruling Workers’ Party, Xinhua news agency reported.
Protesters said they were fed up with the country’s worst recession in 25 years, a massive corruption scandal unfolding at state oil company Petrobras and the government’s complete inability to pass laws in Congress.
Polls show that more than half of Brazilians favour the impeachment of Ms Rousseff. The president faces impeachment proceedings over alleged fiscal mi… Rousseff’s term lasts until 2018, but many want her out now. A judge must sign off on the charges and the detention request, but it’s unknown when she may rule.
Brazilians hold anti-corruption protests. Rousseff has said she would be “extremely proud” to have Silva, who supporters say could prove crucial to helping Rousseff remain afloat. On Saturday, a PMDB congress discussed pulling out altogether, with a decision to be taken in 30 days.
The government of the Workers Party (PT), in power since 2003 seems paralyzed in the middle of this storm.
As part of the operation, known as Car Wash, Lula was briefly detained earlier this month, after investigators said they had evidence he received illicit benefits from the kickback scheme.
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Analysts said the strong turnout could lead to the unraveling of her fragile governing coalition.
