Anti-government protests swept across Brazil on Saturday, calling for the impeachment of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, whose popularity has plummeted, amid accusations of corruption linked to the coronavirus pandemic.
For the fourth week in a row, demonstrators gathered at the call of left-wing parties and unions, to demand the dismissal of the right-wing president, who is targeted by an investigation on the grounds that he was suspected of turning a blind eye to embezzlement of public funds in connection with the purchase of coronavirus vaccines.
Protesters took to the streets in 20 out of 26 Brazilian states, carrying placards depicting Bolsonaro as a demon, and reading - in Portuguese - "Genocide .. Bolsonaro", stressing that they will only leave the streets "when Bolsonaro leaves the position he raped."
In Rio de Janeiro, as elsewhere, thousands of protesters marched, dressed in red and wearing masks.
They carried slogans including "Get out, you corrupt criminal" and "No one can take any more."
A protester holds an upside-down effigy of Bolsonaro during the demonstrations calling for his removal (Reuters)
Demonstrators denounced the late start of the vaccination campaign in Brazil, and the "massive unemployment", demanding more aid for the poor population facing the pandemic.
The pandemic caused the deaths of more than 500,000 Brazilians under the presidency of Bolsonaro, who was widely criticized for questioning the severity of the disease, and for his opposition to wearing a muzzle and social distancing measures.
It is suspected that the Brazilian president ignored suspicions of corruption reported by an employee of the Ministry of Health.
When this employee appeared before an investigative committee formed by the Senate, he said that he was subjected to "extraordinary pressure" to approve the import of doses of the Indian "Cofaxin" vaccine, whose cost he considered exaggerated.
The Brazilian Public Prosecutor's Office announced the opening of a preliminary investigation into the charges against the head of state by 3 senators who accused him of "breaching his duties" in this case.
On June 30, the opposition submitted a complaint to the Brazilian Congress containing 20 different charges in order to impeach the president, but Bolsonaro still has enough support in Congress to block the opposition's efforts to impeach him.
Several days ago, it was reported that the Brazilian Ministry of Defense informed the Congress leadership that next year's elections will not take place without amending the country's electronic voting system to include a ballot card for every vote.
Bolsonaro is going through the worst stage of his presidency since taking office in 2019, as his approval rating fell to 24%, but he is seeking re-election in the presidential elections next year in a strong competition, during which he is expected to likely face his arch political opponent, former leftist President Luis Inacio. Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party, which supports the protests.