Protesters massed in Brazil’s largest city to call for the
president to be removed from office and express outrage at a host of his
policies, while the embattled leader tried to head off some of their criticism.

President Michel Temer has suffered a continual drip of
scandal and high-level resignations since he took office six months ago. But on
Friday a scandal touched him directly for the first time amid allegations he
abused his power to do a personal favor for one of his Cabinet ministers. He
denied the allegation.

The scandal could scuttle Temer’s ability to pass a series
of austerity policies that he says are necessary to pull Latin America’s
largest economy out of a deep recession and they are a threat to his
presidency. Opposition politicians have promised to introduce measures in
Congress calling for his impeachment.

On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered on a main avenue in
Sao Paulo to call for just that. Representatives from political parties and
social movements also protested against the government’s proposal to cap spending
to rein in the deficit, which many fear will result in deep cuts to education
and health care.

Others were protesting rampant corruption in politics,
criticizing not just the current administration, while some complained about
the lack of suitable housing. One group held up a banner with a drawing of
Fidel Castro, paying homage to the Cuban revolutionary leader who died Friday
night.

Many criticized the way Temer came to power. He was the
vice-president to President Dilma Rousseff, who was impeached and removed from
office earlier this year, and protesters said that meant he had no mandate to
pass widespread changes in government programs.

“I am here to fight against the root of all the current
problems in Brazil: the impeachment without cause, the impeachment without
merit,” said Edva Aguilar, a retired nurse who said she wanted to see
Rousseff’s removal annulled and the Worker’s Party politician returned to
office.

But many protesters expressed disgust at all politicians.

“So much money has been stolen,” said Carlos
Alberto, a butcher. “I’m against everyone who is involved in
corruption.” Dozens of business executives and senior politicians have
been charged and arrested this year in a spiraling corruption investigation
that has shocked Brazilians with the scale of graft it has revealed.