Brazil protesters block main highway over welfare cuts
Brazilian protesters have blocked the highway between the main cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to show their opposition to a welfare program proposed by the government.
Police and fire engines were called to the scene as protesters blocked the main motorway over welfare cuts on Friday.
The protesters set fire to wood and tires, blocking traffic for about an hour.
The protesters, who were mobilized by the Homeless Workers Movement (MTST), are against the PEC 55 welfare reforms (previously PEC 241) proposed by President Michel Temer’s administration.
On November 9, the Brazilian constitutional affairs committee in the senate approved the PEC 55.
The reforms will now face two more sets of votes from all members of the house of representatives and the senate on November 29 and December 13.
The proposed reforms will put a cap on social welfare spending for the next 20 years.
A proposed referendum on the reforms has been rejected by senators.
In an act challenged by opponents of PEC, President Temer prepared a dinner where he invited people from the supreme court, the house of representatives and the senate to persuade them not to resist the reform measure.
The Attorney General's office issued an opinion last month that said the PEC would be unconstitutional.
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