There were protests in 24 of Brazil’s 26 states, including Brasilia, where an estimated 600 protesters greeted Temer with calls of "Fora, Temer!" (Out, Temer!) and "Usurper" for his role in the ousting and eventual impeachment of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
Aline Piva, an activist with the pro-Rousseff organization Brazilian Expats for Democracy, told Sputnik that the anger now directed at Temer is a result of a rising consciousness amongst Brazilians about a "soft" coup that has caused a shift in Brazilian politics.
"What we’re seeing now is the protests against the Temer government are rising," she said. "[Protests] are bigger now than they were during the impeachment process. In my opinion, what is happening right now is that people who were against Dilma and against the Worker’s Party are now realizing that they were the victims of a staged coup. And they are now joining those who are protesting all the time."
Piva suggested that the only way Temer could deflect criticism would be to successfully overhaul the Brazilian economy, currently suffering its worst recession in almost a century.
"If he manages to get the Brazilian economy up and running again, maybe this could change, but I don’t think so," she told Sputnik. "He is trying to implement changes in labor laws and social programs that will directly affect many Brazilians, especially young people who are now entering the workforce. I think the tendency will be for Temer to be more and more unpopular."
She observed that it will take more than sentiment to remove Temer, as much of his support comes from the same conservative elements that helped orchestrate Rousseff’s expulsion.
"I don’t think his unpopularity necessarily means we’ll be able to get him out of government because he has the support of the traditional political establishment and from the big money [interests]."
