Brazilians demonstrate to pressure Congress to approve Bolsonaro's reforms

Reuters - Brazilians gathered in Rio de Janeiro and cities on Sunday (May 26) to show their support for far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and to protest against lawmakers whom they see as putting up roadblocks to the leader's legislative agenda. There was not yet any official estimates on crowds, but by midday, they appeared smaller than May 15 protests against Bolsonaro and his government's planned spending freeze on education that sent tens of thousands into streets in over 200 cities, the largest protests in Brazil since Bolsonaro took office. Bolsonaro easily won election last November, but since taking office on January 1, has seen his popularity plummet in several polls. A survey released on Friday (May 24) showed more Brazilians disapprove his government than approve it, a surprisingly fast erosion of popularity. Those in the streets on Sunday argue that Brazil's corrupt political system has not allowed Bolsonaro to push through his legislative agenda and make progress in critical areas like security, education and the economy. They say that Bolsonaro is standing by his core pledge to not engage in the traditional political horse trading in Brasilia that is largely blamed for the stunning levels of corruption in the nation's political class. Bolsonaro initially considered participating in the demonstrations, but later decided not to and recommended the government's ministers not join. Protesters gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte and Brasilia. In Rio de Janeiro, most demonstrators in the world-famous Copacabana Beach wore Brazil soccer team t-shirts and protested against Lower House speaker Rodrigo Maia and the Supreme Court. An anti-Bolsonaro protest was also held on Rio's Ipanema Beach