Protestors against the impeachment of embattled President Rousseff staged a nationwide strike early this morning that initially blocked roads in 17 states and the Federal District of Brazil. The states affected by strikes include Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, and Sergipe. Protests appear to have largely ended or at least diminished in , with many of the previously blocked highways now cleared of demonstrators
The threat of man-made disruption in Brazil is High. These pro-government protests are the latest in a series of political demonstrations to occur in Brazil as the country’s congress continues with the impeachment process. Brazil’s Senate is schedule to vote tomorrow on whether to continue the proceedings against Rousseff, who has been implicated in the ongoing corruption scandal. Recent pro-government protests have not gained as much support as the anti-government demonstrations that occurred in March, when millions of citizens marched to register their discontent over the political scandal involving many of the country’s major politicians as well as the poor state of the economy. Despite the lower turnout, pro-government protests can still block major highways throughout the country. Brazil is likely to see additional political protests in the near future, regardless of the results of the impeachment process.