Brazilian protests over Lula appointment clash with police

17th March 2016 Duarte Dias 0 Comments brazil, lula, protests

Brazilians protestors have clashed with the police during protests against the president’s decision to name her predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, chief of staff.

The anger comes after released phone calls suggested president Dilma Rousseff appointed Lula as chief of staff.

The appointment of Lula to the cabinet, a move seen by his critics as a way to shield the former president from prosecution in a corruption investigation, triggered large protests in several Brazilian cities on Wednesday which carried on to Thursday.

A police officer uses pepper spray on demonstrators during a protest over the appointment of former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as chief of staff, in front of the National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, March 17, 2016. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

Riot police used pepper spray against protestors in the streets of São Paulo and Brasília as they demanded the president’s resignation.

“Theft, corruption, that’s the coup… We’re not clowns. Brazil is better than all of this,” Reuters news agency quoted one Brasilia protester as saying.

Rousseff, who is herself facing impeachment proceedings, defended the decision of appointing Lula as cabinet chief, saying he was a “skilful political negotiator” and experienced leader who would help kick off economic recovery.

Lula was briefly detained and questioned earlier this month over allegations of money laundering connected to Operation Car Wash, a massive investigation into corruption at the state oil giant, Petrobras.

REUTERS