By Sam Cowie
SÃO PAULO
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff addressed thousands of female farmers Wednesday, in part to boost popular support ahead of mass protest planned for Sunday.
The March of the Daisies attracted 40,000 protesters who walked through the county’s capital and ended at the National Stadium.
Francisca da Silva Nascimento, national coordinator of MIQCB, one of the largest rural women's organizations in Latin America, told Anadolu Agency the march would help Rousseff.
“With no doubt, the march gives a huge boost to Dilma, because she has the support of the all women and social movements,” he said. “They are all here to show their support for her.”
According to the O Globo newspaper, marchers shouted “No to coup!” and “Get out, Cunha,” –references to Brazil’s political crisis, and to Speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, who declared last month that he was “against” Rousseff’s Worker’s Party government.
The four-day long March of the Daisies is a series of actions that draws rural women as well as feminist and trade union groups from across Brazil and Latin America.
On her Twitter account, the president posted “Daisies, we can bend, but not break.”
Recent months have seen mounting pressure for the president to be impeached, following a huge graft scandal at state oil giant Petrobras, despite no evidence that connects Rousseff to the scheme. Coupled with a struggling economy, the president's approval ratings are at historic lows.
Nationwide anti-government protests will be held Sunday, calling for Rouseff’s impeachment.
The March of the Daisies seeks to celebrate advances made and address challenges that remain in the sphere of women’s rights, addressing themes such as agrarian reform, sustainable development, food sovereignty, education, economic empowerment and gender based violence. This year’s event is the fifth held since 2000.
