Brazil’s president orders troops on the streets after clashes
Brazil’s president ordered soldiers to restore order in the capital yesterday after some government ministries were evacuated during clashes between police and protesters seeking to oust the leader.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched to Congress to protest against economic reforms that president Michel Temer is pushing through, and to demand he step down amid a corruption scandal.
Scuffles between police and protesters who tried to jump a cordon mushroomed into a series of clashes in which officers fired tear gas and pepper spray to contain the crowd. Protesters set fires and used portable toilets as barricades.
Local media aired footage of military police firing pistols into the air. The Secretariat of Public Security later issued a statement saying one person had been injured by a bullet.
A fire broke out in the ministry of agriculture, and demonstrators smashed windows and doors at other ministries. Some government agencies were evacuated in response, the president’s office said.
In a brief national address during the unrest, defence minister Raul Jungmann said troops were being sent to guard federal buildings, including the presidential palace. The week-long deployment was authorised by a presidential decree – which also left open the possibility that soldiers could be used more widely in Brasilia. The decree said Mr Jungmann would decide the scope.
“This mess, this mayhem is unacceptable,” Mr Jungmann said. “President Temer will not allow that.”
Mr Jungmann added that soldiers had already entered the foreign ministry, and TV images showed troops outside the presidential palace. In all, 1,500 will be deployed, the defence ministry said.
Mr Temer is struggling to retain power after the release of a recording that appears to capture him approving hush money for a convicted former politician. Brazil’s top court is investigating him for alleged obstruction of justice and involvement in passive corruption. The president has denied wrongdoing.
His unusual decision to call in the military could heighten anger against the government if it is seen as the last gasp of a president trying to maintain his hold on power.
“This decree was never used in this context to protect an administration that is politically isolated,” said Newton de Oliveira, a professor and security specialist at Mackenzie University in Rio de Janeiro. He said he thought the supreme court might be called on to evaluate whether the move was constitutional.