Brazilian president proposes referendum to end days of anti-government protests

On Monday, following talks with state governors, cabinet members, and city mayors, Rousseff said, “I am going to press for a referendum for the election of a constituent assembly tasked with political reform."
 
"Political reform has been on the nation's agenda for many years," she added.
 
On the same day, following talks with protest leaders and regional officials Rousseff also said the government would allocate "50 billion reais ($25 billion) in new investments for urban mobility projects" and "to improve public transport in our country."
 
On Friday, Rousseff offered a series of reforms in order to bring to an end days of anti-government protests across the country.
 
She stated that her government would draft a new plan to improve public transport, adding that all oil royalties would be used to improve health and education. She also pledged to fight harder in the campaign against corruption.
 
A poll on June 22 by Ibope polling agency revealed that three quarter of Brazilians support the protests.
 
The protests erupted on June 11, when people in Sao Paulo took to the streets to condemn a price hike in public transport.
 
The unrest spread quickly around the country and by June 22 some 1.5 million people participated in demonstrations.
 
At several protests, Brazilian police resorted to using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters.
 
Protest organizers have vowed to continue demonstrations until concrete steps are taken to reform the political system as numerous social media call for a general strike on July 1, stating, “On July 1, 2013, Brazil will grind to a halt.”