Brazilians demand President Temer’s resignation

Demonstrators gathered at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach on Sunday for a rally against Brazilian President Michel Temer that will feature musical performances from Brazilian artists, including Caetano Veloso and Criolo.

The demonstration was organized by Rio Pelas Diretas Ja, or Rio for Direct Elections Now, which promoted the #DiretasJa hashtag on social media to call for direct elections to replace the unpopular president, who is mired by corruption allegations, which have plunged Latin America's largest economy into even greater political chaos.

Temer took over the presidency last year after then-president Dilma Rousseff was removed over her handling of budget figures.

However, Temer could also be forced out if an electoral court annuls the 2014 re-election of Rousseff and Temer, her running mate, on accusations the ticket was funded by illegal campaign donations.

Brazilian President Michel Temer is seen during a meeting with businessmen at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on May 25, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Temer, who denies any wrongdoing, has said he will not resign.

If Temer is forced from office by the electoral court ruling, Brazilian law mandates that Congress - where scores of lawmakers are ensnared in the corruption investigation - must choose an interim leader within 30 days.

Leftist opponents, led by Rousseff's Workers Party, which had ruled for 13 years until she was removed, are calling for early general elections, which are unlikely because holding them would require Congress to amend the constitution.

A recent opinion poll showed the Temer administration's approval rating has sunk to 5 percent, making it Brazil's most unpopular government since the end of military rule three decades ago.

(Source: Reuters)