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Rousseff Asks Brazilians to Back Austerity Plan Amid Protests in 12 Cities

03/09/2015 - 08h50

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FROM BRASÍLIA

In a TV and radio address this Sunday (8), President Dilma Rousseff defended the fiscal adjustment, asked for support from the population and Congress to implement measures that affect "all" and said criticism against the government are "unfair."

According to the PT member, the adjustment is a measure taken "courageously." "Even if it means some temporary sacrifices for all and unfair and disproportionate criticism of the government," she said.

During the speech, drivers honked the horns in at least four capital cities - São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Rio and Curitiba - as well as in Brasília.

In building windows, residents banged on pots and cursed the president while flashing their apartment lights.

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In her speech, Rousseff called the adjustment a "crossing." She denied she will "betray" the middle class and workers, but said everyone will pay for the measures.

"We absorb the negative charge as much as we can and now we have to share part of this effort with all sectors of society."

The defense was in talks about International Women's Day; while on the subject, she announced she would sign the bill that considers murder of a woman a crime subject to more severe penalties.

Rousseff resumed the narrative according to which the country is under the impact of the international crisis that began in 2008.

She said Brazil has "solid fundamentals" and that "even from far [the country] is experiencing a crisis of smaller proportions." "It's much different than those crises of the past that broke and paralyzed the country."

The president also made a criticism of the media by the way it describes the economy - the forecasts are quite pessimistic for 2015, with all indicators pointing to the risk of a recession, inflation hitting 8% annually and giving signs of cooling.

"News programs are useful, but they are not always sufficient. Often they confuse us more than they enlighten us."

Still, she admitted the situation was worrying. "You have every right to be angry and to worry," she said, after noting that the country would live through a "second step" of the crisis, exacerbated by the drought in the southeast and the northeast.

Then she made the traditional call for the union of leaders. "I ask you to unite and to trust in the conduct of this process by the government, by Congress."

The mention of Parliament reflects the difficulties the government faces in the Houses dominated by an increasingly aloof PMDB, with their two presidents blaming the Planalto for their inclusion on the list of those investigated in the Car Wash Operation, which suspects corruption at Petrobras.

The Supreme Court announced last Friday (6) that it authorized the opening of investigations of 34 parliamentarians suspected of involvement in the corruption scheme.

The investigations involved 22 deputies and 12 senators from six parties, including the presidents of the Chamber, Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ), and the Senate, Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL).

Regarding the Car Wash Operation, Rousseff defended an "extensive investigation."

Translated by JILL LANGLOIS

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