Mayhem or Merriment: Civil Unrest During the Games

Protest movements and labour unrest have emerged as part of a new civil discourse in Brazil aimed at challenging the government on numerous social and political issues. This discourse has its roots in the protest movements of 2013, which saw tens of thousands take to the streets to demonstrate a broader dissatisfaction with poor social services, high taxes, government corruption and wasteful public spending. 

These grievances re-emerged in 2014 in time for the FIFA World Cup, as protests over the same issues, in addition to perceived corruption within FIFA, were held across 100 cities leading up to the event. Hundreds of protesters attempted to block roads near official venues in host cities at the time leading to violent confrontations with the police. Some host cities were also impacted by labour strikes in key areas of the public sector, including transportation. However, the number of demonstrations fell significantly in the first week of the World Cup over alleged fears of potential violence as a result of excessive force employed by police and increasing public interest in the tournament. As another major sporting event approaches, questions are being raised as to whether the Olympic Games will be impacted by mass demonstrations. 

Anti-corruption protests have re-emerged in Brazil since 2015 with Brazilians taking to the streets to shake up the political elite. Protesters initially organised to fight institutionalised corruption in the country, a theme that received unprecedented attention after the widely publicised Lava Jato investigation. This operation exposed corruption schemes implicating members of former president Dilma Rousseff’s Workers’ Party, coalition partners, and executives in the hydrocarbons and construction industries. These tensions culminated in the largest protest in Brazil’s history when over one million Brazilians called for Dilma’s impeachment in March 2016. While Dilma has since been suspended, the country’s interim president, Michel Temer, remains unpopular and has ignited further protests. Smaller ‘pro-democracy’ protests have therefore developed to fight Temer’s succession to power, with many calling Dilma’s suspension a coup. However, such protests have failed to attract the numbers witnessed earlier in the year, arguably because the immediate needs of the impeachment protestors have been met with the ousting of Dilma. 

It is therefore unlikely that significant protests will occur during Rio 2016. The city is likely to benefit from the public’s largely positive perception of the Olympics relative to FIFA as well as from an increased security presence, which may deter demonstrators from organising any gatherings. However, small protests are likely to develop in the city centre and around official venues. These are expected to be organised by supporters of Dilma and her party who may call for Temer to step down or to make way for new general elections. However, they are unlikely to draw significant support. Unless relevant corruption allegations are made against senior members of the interim government over the duration of the Games, protests are unlikely to draw large crowds resulting in minimal disruption to Olympic and Paralympic attendees.