Brazilian Transport Fare Protests Likely To Result In Damage To Bank Branches.

New protests against transport fare increases organised by the Free Fare Movement (Movimento Passe Livre: MPL) were staged in several Brazilian cities on 16 January.

Brazilian Transport Fare Protests Likely To Result In Damage To Bank Branches.

In São Paulo, approximately 3,000 demonstrators, according to police figures, gathered at praça do Ciclista at Avenida Paulista and marched to the town hall and the state transport authority in the city centre. Demonstrators threw fireworks, stones, and glass at the police, which responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades. There were acts of vandalism against vehicles and bank branches in Xavier de Toledo, Líbero Badaró, and São João streets, as demonstrators threw stones and broke windows. Traffic at Rua da Consolação was disrupted. In Rio de Janeiro, around 500 people gathered in Candelária and held overall peaceful marches, although these did cause blockades at Avenida President Vargas in the city centre. In Belo Horizonte, around 150 demonstrators burnt tyres in front of the offices of bus companies in the east side of the city. Protests in Florianópolis and Recife disrupted transit in the city centres.

FORECAST:

Protests against transport fare rises implemented in early January are likely to continue (the MPL called for new protests on 20 January).

 They have not been as large as in mid-2013 when, following MPL protests, more than 1 million demonstrators took to the streets nationwide to protest against issues such as poor healthcare and education, and corruption. The MPL has also announced a different strategy for 2015, which includes holding discussions in peripheral areas of São Paulo, in order to reduce the risk of anarchist presence in protests and acts of vandalism. However, the fact that protests are spreading throughout the country signals they are likely to gain traction. Austerity measures expected to be announced by the government, such as cutting energy subsidies, will prove unpopular and are likely to attract other sectors of society, mostly middle classes, to join the protests, which could become more frequent. In major cities, such as São Paulo and Rio, there is a risk of minor property damage (notably on transport infrastructure, bank branches, and government property), transport disruption, and injury.