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Rousseff: Brazil stronger after protests
June 19, 2013, 8:39 am

[Xinhua]

Brazil has not seen demonstrations of this kind in more than 25 years [Xinhua]

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff says that the message of the protestors has been noted by her government.

“My government hears the voices clamouring for change, my government is committed to social transformation,” President Rousseff said in a televised speech in Brasilia on Tuesday.

“Those who took to the streets yesterday sent a clear message to all of society, above all to political leaders at all levels of government.”

Tens of thousands of people protested in Brazil’s largest cities on Monday over dissatisfaction with the high cost of living and a stalled economy.

Brazil has not seen demonstrations of this kind in more than 25 years.

Officials in at least five cities, including important state capitals such as Porto Alegre and Recife, have announced lowering bus fares to quell further protests.

The Brazilian leader said: “Brazil woke up stronger today,” and that, “The size of yesterday’s demonstrations shows the energy of our democracy, the strength of the voice of the streets and the civility of our population.”

The Brazilian justice ministry has said that it would send federal troops to the cities hosting the two-week FIFA Confederations’ Cup soccer tournament, which kicked off in Brazil on Saturday.

Source: Agencies