Thousands of people filled the streets of Brazil’s main cities for the first general strike of far-right president Jair Bolsonaro’s administration over pension reforms and budget cuts. Thousands of people filled the streets of Brazil’s main cities for the first general strike of far-right president Jair Bolsonaro’s administration over pension reforms and budget cuts. The nationwide strike was called by Brazil’s unions and mainly targeted the pensions overhaul Mr Bolsonaro is currently pushing for in congress. It follows massive protests in May against steep cuts to the public education system and discontent over an economic downturn. A previous pension reform bill, introduced by former president Michel Temer, managed to pass the commission and made it to the plenary, but was abandoned after nine months.

Source: Irish Independent June 15, 2019 06:00 UTC