Brazilians protest pension reform as Bolsonaro faces first general strike

[sandensea]

A nationwide strike called by Brazil's trade unions disrupted public transport and triggered roadblocks across the country Friday, ahead of protests against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's pension reform plans.

Hours before the opening match of the Copa America in São Paulo, some metro lines in the country's biggest city were paralyzed as professors and students protested planned education spending cuts as well.

It will be the latest mass demonstration against Bolsonaro since he took office in January - but the timing could not be worse for the embattled president as Brazil prepares to play Bolivia in South America's showcase football tournament.

Bolsonaro's right-wing administration is now languishing at around 35% job approval just five months after taking office. Rejection of increasingly authoritarian tactics is being exacerbated by an economic downturn:

GDP slid 0.2% in the first quarter. Compared to the first quarter of 2018, GDP grew only 0.5% - its worst result in two years.

This was followed by reports that unemployment rose another 0.5% in April, to 12.5%.

At: https://www.france24.com/en/20190614-brazil-cities-paralysed-bolsonaro-general-strike-pension-reform

Brazilian demonstrators gather under a sign calling on lawmakers to "stop Bolsonaro's pension reform."

The initiative, inherited from the 2016-18 Temer dictatorship, increases contribution requirements and minimum retirement ages - as well as cutting average pensions by up to 40%.

Following successive raises during the Workers' Party era (2003-16), the average monthly pension in Brazil stands at $467 - one of the highest in Latin America.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Millions of Brazilians Join General Strike and Protests Against President's Austerity Reforms

Millions of Brazilians Join General Strike and Protests Against President’s Austerity Reforms
June 14, 2019

In what has become the largest mobilization against Brazil's right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro, millions of Brazilians joined in the general strike, shutting down schools, banks, and public transportation. They are demanding a halt of the pension reform and the release of imprisoned ex-president Lula da Silva. Mike Fox reports from Brazil

- video at link -

https://therealnews.com/stories/millions-of-brazilians-join-general-strike-and-protests-against-presidents-austerity-reforms

Best wishes to the sane people of Brazil.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Brazil: Police Repress Rallies Against Pension Reform

Brazil: Police Repress Rallies Against Pension Reform



Riot police take up position in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil June 14, 2019. The sign reads: 'The strike did not cause chaos. It was the chaos that caused the strike.' | Photo: Reuters

Published 15 June 2019 (11 hours 37 minutes ago)

Tear gas and rubber bullets were used to disperse citizens and journalists who tried to protest into the night.

Brazilian military police were out in force across the country to crackdown on the thousands of protesters at Friday's massive national strike against government social security reforms.

In Rio de Janeiro, members of the Military Police (MP) monitored the estimated 100,000 demonstrators who took over the city's main avenues, rejecting President Jair Bolsonaro's proposal to privative the national pension program. As citizens protested late into the night, the MP dispersed workers and students by launching tear gas and shooting rubber bullets at them. A Brasil de Fato journalist reporting from the scene says she was trapped inside a car and felt the effects of the tear gas, suffering from burning eyes and throat.

Protesters continued to shout: "I won't give up welfare or education," and "Be careful because if you mess with social security, you attack the whole country." Others refrained: "Our struggle brought workers and students together."

More:
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Brazil-Police-Repress-Rallies-Against-Pension-Reform-20190615-0001.html

[Judi Lynn]

3. Violence in Brazil's Capitals Marks Nationwide Strike

Violence in Brazil's Capitals Marks Nationwide Strike
There were reports of rubber bullets shot at protestors, trampling, arrests, and tear gas bombs
Jun.17.2019 1:40PM

RIO DE JANEIRO , CURITIBA , PORTO ALEGRE , RECIFE and SALVADOR
Fleeting scenes of violence marked Friday’s strike against the reform of Social security. Across Brazil’s capitals, there were reports of rubber bullets shot at protestors, trampling, arrests, tear gas bombs and general hostility against the press.

In the morning, a driver ran over protesters who had closed one of Niterói’s main avenues Niterói (Rio metropolitan area). The car’s wheel ran over the leg of professor Kate Costa, 32.

In the center of Rio de Janeiro, confusion began as police officers organized in the middle of the protest. One demonstrator set off fireworks, and the PM started to launch tear gas bombs.

In São Paulo, the Military Police shot rubber bullets and threw tear gas bombs at protesters at the corner of Avenida Paulista and Consolação Street, in the central region.

Demonstrator Sandro de Lima, 44, was hit in the face by a rubber bullet while participating in a protest near the Getúlio Vargas Refinery in Araucária, a metropolitan region of Curitiba (south).

More:
https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2019/06/violence-in-brazils-capitals-marks-nationwide-strike.shtml