Confrontation at Porto Alegre City Hall leaves councilors and protesters injured

Turmoil began after restricting access to the plenary during voting on projects; city ​​hall will open an investigation to investigate the conduct of the Municipal Guard

CMPA / Elson Sempé Pedroso
Session at the Porto Alegre City Council ends in a widespread confrontation, leaving at least five councilors and protesters injured

A session at the City Council ended in a widespread confrontation last Wednesday (15), leaving at least five councilors and several protesters injured. The confusion involved parliamentarians, citizens and Municipal Guard agents outside the legislative building.

The mayor of the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, (MDB), announced the opening of an investigation to investigate the confrontation. The investigation will use all available elements, including images from body cameras used by security agents, to clarify the circumstances of what happened.

The demonstrators were protesting against two bills that were being voted on:

  1. The proposed concession from the Municipal Department of Water and Sewage (DMAE) to the private sector.

  2. A project that restricts the activities of recyclable material collectors in the city.

The turmoil began when the president of the Chamber, councilor Comandante Nádia (PL), activated a security protocol that restricted public access to the plenary, which was already full.

According to opposition councilors, they were negotiating to allow more people to enter, who were waiting outside in the intense heat. At that moment, the Municipal Guard was called and used gas bombs to disperse the crowd. The gas hit protesters, parliamentarians and Chamber employees who were at the entrance to the building.

*With information from Arthur Cipriani

*Report produced with the help of AI

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