Brasilia, March 16 (teleSUR-RHC) Right-wing protesters swarmed ministerial buildings in Brasilia and along Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro early Sunday as part of nationwide demonstrations calling for the impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
Protests took place in 65 cities across the country, including Belo Horizonte, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Recife and Porto Alegre, among others.
Protestors claim that the recently elected president should be impeached due to a corruption scandal in the state-owned oil company Petrobras. Since her re-election last year, Rousseff has taken action to tackle wrongdoing in the company. During her election campaign she emphasised an anti-corruption message.
Several local media outlets have reported right-wing protesters carrying signs advocating for military intervention against President Rousseff.
In response, President of the Brazilian Workers Party Rui Falcao issued a statement condemning all attempts by the right-wing opposition groups to destabilize the democratically-elected government of President Rousseff.
Despite the calls for her to step down, Rousseff took to Facebook defending “freedom of expression” and the protesters right to voice their discontent.
“I feel that freedom of expression is something that Brazil must defend, but at the same time it must ensure that it be done so peacefully,” Rousseff stated.
The president, who was tortured and imprisoned for three years (1970-1972)during Brazil's military dictatorship, emphasized the importance of the right to protest.
