Sao Paulo (AFP)
Football supporters called for a new demonstration on Sunday in Brasilia to defend democracy and ask Congress to open a dismissal procedure against far-right president Jair Bolsonaro.
"We have established a calendar of events and the first cycle ends in Brasilia, a symbolic place as a federal capital," Danilo Passaro, national leader of the "Somos democracia" (We are democracy) movement, told AFP. the origin of several anti-Bolsonaro demonstrations in May in Sao Paulo.
"With the supporters (...) we are ready to fight in the streets for democracy," added Mr. Passaro, who believes that the head of state and members of his government are hovering over the country a risk of authoritarian drift.
The movement hopes to "bring together some 5,000 people, all members of organized groups" of supporters of Brazilian clubs.
They will go to the capital in coaches "made available to them by associations and unions", added this member of Gavioes da Fiel, ultra-historic group of Corinthians, one of the most popular clubs in Brazil.
Despite the strong rivalry between groups of ultra Brazilian supporters, the union is "necessary" to defend democracy, said the organizer.
Members of "Somos Democracia" also plan on this occasion to meet the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Rodrigo Maia, to ask him to follow up on one of the 35 requests for dismissal filed against Jair Bolsonaro, notably for his management of the health crisis.
"We want Maia to accept one of the 30 requests for dismissal made by ... political parties, social organizations and civil society groups," said Danilo Passaro.
The movement also took a stand against the resumption of football games in Brazil where the state championship of Rio de Janeiro was restarted Thursday after three months of interruption, despite the still rapid spread of the Covid-19.
In the early 1980s, the ultras of many clubs had participated massively in the monster demonstrations demanding the end of the dictatorship, while legendary players like Socrates were emblems of the fight for democracy.
Brazil is the second most bereaved country in the world by the new coronavirus epidemic after the United States. He recorded 978,000 infections and nearly 48,000 deaths, according to the latest official figures, which would be far from reality.
© 2020 AFP