Brazil President Rousseff’s popularity falls to 30 percent

GlobalPost

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's popularity rating has plummeted to 30 percent in the wake of massive protests across the country.

The drop is the sharpest for a Brazilian leader in more than 20 years, Reuters reported.

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It's also a marked downturn from the 57 percent of Brazilians who rated Rousseff's government as "great/good" three weeks ago before the demonstrations began June 6.

The protests initially targeted transportation fares but quickly expanded to a variety of issues including government corruption, high taxes, poor public services and the billions being spent on the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

According to the Datafolha poll, 81 percent of respondents support the protests.

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However, most Brazilians disagreed that transportation should be free, as protesters have demanded.

Rousseff recently unveiled a series of steps to address the concerns, including $23 billion in transportation investments and a plan to hold a popular vote on political reform.

First elected in 2010, Rousseff is up for re-election next year.

Also on Saturday, social networks were abuzz with rumors of a general strike Monday, with posts saying it would hit every state.

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