Brazil still at a standstill as truckers’ strike over fuel price turns political
President Michel Temer relented on demands for a diesel price cut, but now non-truckers have taken to the streets, demanding the fall of his government
Rio de Janeiro — Brazil, South America’s economic giant, remained in a near-stranglehold on Tuesday despite a pledge from the president that a nine-day transport strike would soon end. Late on Sunday, the deeply unpopular President Michel Temer caved in to intense pressure from strikers, and cut the price of diesel fuel. The truck strike has been crippling fuel, food and other freight across the industrial and agricultural powerhouse. Temer said he had "absolute conviction that between today and tomorrow" the crisis would finally end. In a tweet, Temer gave a slightly longer horizon of "one to two days". Despite the president’s confidence, significant numbers of truck drivers stood firm and some called for the government to step down. A key Temer minister, Eliseu Padilha, spoke of unidentified groups "infiltrating the movement with different, essentially political goals". Late on Sunday, Temer gave in to their main demand for lower diesel costs, but on Monday there was renewed disru...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.