Brazilians protests against Bolsonaro in dozens of cities over pandemic, fuel prices

Brazilians held protests in dozens of cities of their country Saturday to demonstrate against right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, inflation and fuel prices.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in multiple state capitals after a pro-Bolsonaro rally was held on Sept. 7, Reuters reported. 

The protests occurred in more than 200 cities in the country, organizers say, bringing the center-left parties, trade unions and social movements together. 

Brazil has been struggling with the coronavirus amid accusations that Bolsonaro has spread misinformation regarding the disease. He has also stated he won’t get the coronavirus vaccine. 

Protesters also brought an inflatable gas canister that reportedly read, “Is it expensive? It’s Bolsonaro’s fault,” according to the newswire. 

The protesters called for the president’s impeachment after several impeachment proposals against Bolsonaro were brought up in the country’s Congress.

Impeachment proposals were drawn up after he told evangelical leaders in August there were “three alternatives for my future: being arrested, killed or victory” in the next election.

Bolsonaro’s popularity hit a new low in September with a poll saying 53 percent of the country disapproves of the job he is doing. Only 22 percent said he was doing a “good or excellent job.”

Ciro Gomes, a Brazilian presidential hopeful, was not at the protest and neither was former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who polls show beating Bolsonaro in a 2022 election, local media reported.