Brazil: Demonstration in Manaus exposes electoral farce
On August 23, protesters rejected the mayor of Manaus, David Almeida (Avante), during a protest on the viaduct located on Boulevard Álvaro Maia avenue, Adrianópolis neighborhood, south-central area of Manaus, A Nova Democracia reported.
The residents demand that the city government resolve the precarious situation of the neighborhood’s infrastructure. According to the protesters, with the water dammed up, flooding of homes and businesses is almost inevitable, especially in Beco Ayrão. Another demand from residents is a solution to the problems of damaged asphalt and potholed streets.
The demonstration took to the streets with posters displaying their demands and, in a show of combativeness, blocked part of the viaduct on Avenida Boulevard Álvaro Maia with burning tires.
While protesting, they also shouted: Mayor, where are you? I came here just to see you! in rejection of Almeida.
The poor infrastructure conditions and lack of basic sanitation have been like this for over 20 years, as reported by residents.
In 2022, they held a demonstration in the same location for the same demands. According to the community members, the thin layer of asphalt in a certain section of the Ayrão alley, combined with the damaged drainage network, is very risky.
David Almeida is great at bragging about his supposed work in improving the city’s infrastructure, but popular demonstrations make it clear that his claims are just lies. A survey carried out in 2023 revealed that Manaus is among the 20 worst cities in Brazil in terms of basic sanitation, ranking third place. More than half of the population lives without adequate sanitation services, which highlights the need for urgent measures to reverse this situation.
Throughout Brazil there has been a growth in campaigns to reject the electoral farce and to call for a boycott, in the form of demonstrations such as the one in Manaus or in the formation of groups such as the first Committee to Boycott the 2024 Electoral Farce, founded in Rio de Janeiro on August 31.
