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International Workers' Day marches in Brazil turn into show of support for Rousseff

Xinhua, May 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Hundreds of thousands of people marched in Brazil's main cities on International Workers' Day in a show of support for the embattled President Dilma Rousseff.

Protests were seen in 16 of the country's 27 states, called by Central Union of Workers (CUT) and numerous other labor and left-wing organizations.

The city of Sao Paulo saw the largest march with around 100,000 people, according to organizers, in three separate marches.

Rousseff appeared at the CUT march in Sao Paulo, alongside the mayor of Sao Paulo, Fernando Haddad, and the president of the Workers' Party, Rui Falcao.

During a speech to the crowd, Rousseff announced a new policy measure, according to daily O Globo, saying that her flagship Bolsa Familia program would be increased by 9 percent.

Bolsa Familia sees public funds being given to poor families, especially mothers, as long as their children stay in school and out of trouble with the law.

This program, first implemented by Lula during his term in office, is seen as a major reason for the Workers' Party ongoing popularity among poorer Brazilians.

Furthermore, Rousseff added that 25,000 new houses would be built within the Mi Casa, Mi Vida (My Home, My Life) program, the renewal of the contracts of foreign doctors in the Más Médicos (More Doctors) program, an increase in paternity leave for public officials and an adjustment to the rental tax to benefit workers.

In other cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, Joao Pessoa, Recife and Salvador, Rousseff supporters marched, saying they would not allow her impeachment.

The Brazilian Senate is currently considering whether to open an impeachment trial against Rousseff, over alleged fiscal irregularities in 2014 and 2015. Enditem