The Stream

Protesting for a new political order in Brazil

Calls for impeachment reveal rift between public and political system

Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff got her political start resisting a military dictatorship. She won that fight. But now, she’s Brazil’s most unpopular leader since that dictatorship ended in 1985, and she’s fighting for her own political survival. A corruption scandal and tanking economy have spurred mass protests calling for her impeachment. But the discontent goes far beyond the right-wing middle classes marching in the streets. Working class leftists say Rousseff’s Workers Party has abandoned its base and sold out to the conservative political establishment. They want a new leftist movement to rise, while the right wants a seat in the presidential palace. Will the protests force Brazil’s government to change? We discuss at 19:30 GMT.

On today’s episode of The Stream, we speak with:

Fabio Ostermann @FabioOstermann
Activist, Movimento Brasil Livre
movimentobrasillivre.org

Bruno Torturra @torturra
Journalist and photographer
fluxo.net

Rodrido Nunes @orangoquango
Lecturer, Catholic University of Rio De Janeiro

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