Protests fall short of expectations in Brazil
Updated: 2015-08-17 16:25
(Xinhua)
|
||||||||
RIO DE JANEIRO - The major anti-government protests scheduled for Sunday in Brazil turned out to be of a lesser scale than organizers had expected, which may give President Dilma Rousseff and her Workers' Party some much needed breathing time.
The protests, which occurred in almost all Brazilian states, were expected to gather several million people to call for President Rousseff's impeachment and increase pressure on the federal administration.
However, participation was much lower than expectation, totaling 610,000, matching the figures registered in the April protest and not nearing the over 1.5 million people estimated at the largest organized protest in March.
The figures indicate that calls for Rousseff's impeachment may be dwindling though her approval rate is at an all-time low.
The opposition was not the only one to get to the streets on Sunday. Supporters of the current government marched in Sao Paulo, gathering in a small crowd in front of the Lula Institute, founded by former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Rousseff's predecessor and political mentor.
Research institute Datafolha estimated a total of 135,000 protesters appeared in Sao Paulo, the largest opposition protest in the country, while organizers put the number at 1 million and local police said 350,000 people showed up.
Police estimated that 25,000 people protested in Brasilia, the country's capital city, and 20,000 in Rio. The protests were also extended abroad, with an estimated 120 people taking part in London and Paris together.
- In pictures: Life near Tianjin blasts site
- The world in photos: Aug 10-16
- In the face of chaos, people persevere
- Top 10 most expensive office markets in the world
- Times Square 'Kiss-In'
- School turns into place of shelter in Tianjin
- Earliest site of coal fuel found in Xinjiang
- Top 10 Chinese cities with highest property prices
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Seventh China-US strategic dialogue |
Premier Li embarks on Latin America visit |
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Spring Festival trends reflect a changing China |
Today's Top News
Bomb in centre of Thai capital kills at least 12
'Window' on WWII opens in Bay Area
US pilot is remembered in book, film
Sodium cyanide in Tianjin to be collected, neutralized
Premier Li pledges thorough investigation into deadly blasts
Experts say J-10s would benefit Iran
Indonesia rescuers head to mountains in missing plane search
New York event marks war anniversary
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |