Above Photo: Brazil’s Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles attends a news conference in Brasilia | Photo: Reuters
Brazil’s new Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles held a press conference today, laying out the outline of a neo-liberal approach to social security and labor reform.
The “most important” issues facing Brazil’s economy are the level of unemployment and retirement funds, both of which related to sovereign debt. Meirelles said that the current state of the economy, which has suffered due to low oil prices, is causing international financiers to lose confidence in the Brazil government.
He did not announce any plans to deal with these issues, but said they must be “concrete” and “consistent.” The newly appointed finance minster hopes that the reforms will instill confidence in banks and other institutions to continue to finance the Brazilian state.
Meirelles promised to announce concrete measures “later,” saying that on Monday he would reveal specifics on the reforms and who within the Finance Ministry would keep and lose their jobs.
The finance minister also guaranteed that the reforms would be democratic, with approval from the congress.
Temer’s Pick for Justice Minister Raises Fears of Repression
UPDATE 9:30 AM EDT: Senate-imposed President Michel Temer named Alexandre de Moraes as justice minister, he previously served as secretary for security for the right-wing government of the state of Sao Paulo and in that capacity oversaw several brutal crackdowns on social protest.
Coup gov’t in Brazil to implement neoliberalism via repression? https://t.co/YuBPm4lapR pic.twitter.com/RtWbA94ZiN
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) May 13, 2016
Swift Reaction by Brazilians Protesting Coup
UPDATE 9:20 AM EDT: Brazilians opposed to the coup marched along Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo Thursday night, marking the beginning of resistance to the coup regime of Michel Temer.
Honduras’ Manuel Zelaya Supports Protesting Brazilians
UPDATE 4:58 AM EDT: The leftist Honduran leader, ousted in a coup in 2009, expressed Thursday his “support, solidary and militant, to the Brazilian president and their legitimate president in these tragic times.”
The press release from the Liberty and Refoundation party of Zelaya also wrote that, “The forces defending democracy on our continent must alert the international community, and our own people, to the conservative offensive in Latin America, which is trying to restore the model of looting and plundering with which they have repressed and impoverished our countries for decades.”
From First Woman President to No Women at All
Brazilians Take to the Streets
Hundreds of members of the Brazil’s Homeless Workers’ Movement (MTST) are conducting a protest at Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, rejecting what they say is a “parliamentary coup” against President Dilma Rousseff.
President Rousseff has vowed to reverse what thi illegal move through legal defense, and said she’ll stay in office until her term formally expires in 2018.
Cuba Blasts ‘Reactionary Counter-Offensive of Imperialism’
UPDATE 7:30 PM EDT: The Cuban government is rejecting what it considers a parliamentary coup against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
“What happens in Brazil is part of the reactionary counter-offensive of imperialism and the oligarchy against the revolutionary and progressive governments in Latin America and the Caribbean, these actions threaten the peace and stability in our nations.”
ALBA Movements Strongly Condemn Parliamentary Coup in Brazil
UPDATE 7:07 PM EDT: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro read the official statement of the regional Latin American and Caribbean integration body ALBA, condemning the ouster of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
“The ALBA movements repudiate the coup, which is a step forward for Imperialism advancing over our region. Along with the popular movements in Brazil, we express that we do not recognize the coup government of Temer and we urge the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean to not legitimize this process.”
A Coup Has Began Today In Latin America: Nicolas Maduro
UPDATE 6:09 PM EDT: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro addressed his nation on Thursday and said the right-wing sectors of Brazil have began a coup against Latin America and the Caribbean.
“The coup against the government of President Dilma Rousseff is a coup against the entire region,” Maduro said. “Today the first phase of a coup was accomplished to end an era of popular power,” he added.