US$23 billion hike for transport after Brazil protests

[Judi Lynn]

US$23 billion hike for transport after Brazil protests
9:49 AM Tuesday Jun 25, 2013

Under pressure after more than a week of nationwide protests, Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff has said her government will spend US$23 billion more on public transportation, promised to push a plebiscite on political reform and announced five core areas her government will focus on to improvements to government services.

Rousseff made the announcement after meeting with leaders of a free-transit activist group that launched the first demonstrations more than a week ago. They said they would continue to protest, including lending their support to a demonstration in Sao Paulo organised by other groups.

The president also opened a meeting of governors and mayors from 26 capital cities to discuss ways to make deep improvements.

"I mainly want to repeat that my government is listening to democratic voices. We must learn to hear the voices of the street,'' Rousseff told the governors and mayors. "We all must, without exception, understand these signals with humility and accuracy.''

More:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10892800

[Socialistlemur]

1. If she handles this right she will be super popular

And I'm sure she will win the elections

[ocpagu]

2. Great news.

And a very interesting information in your link:

Rousseff said she would push debate about holding a plebiscite on political reform a special constitutional assembly that would hear from the Brazilian public about what action needs to be taken to improve Brazil's political system.

Let's see how media will respond to that. I bet they'll play the "Bolivarian autocrat" card. Their point about hijacking the protests is precisely to avoid the radicalization of the agenda. Dilma was bold.