The Favelas Sour on Dilma Rousseff

摘要

Brazil's Congress hasn't moved to impeach embattled President Dilma Rousseff, but in a shantytown named for her, she's already been ousted. As high inflation hits the poor harder than the rich, the leader of the Comunidade Dilma Rousseff last month tore down the placard honoring the president at the entrance to the favela in Rio de Janeiro. The members of the community had hoped the sign would attract the attention of the government and lead to the favela getting electricity and a sewage system. "We put up a sign after Dilma was elected, thinking it was going to be worthwhile, but nothing at all happened," says Marilene Silva Souza, who sells cookies and bottled water on a nearby highway. Now, thanks to inflation, she and other residents "are eating scraps. If you want to eat a little better, you have to pay an absurd amount."