On August 16, for the third time in six months, the Brazilian right took to the streets across the country, denouncing political corruption and demanding the impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff of the Workers’ Party (PT).

The demonstrations reflect the Brazilian right’s growing confidence, a product of the deep political crisis of the PT government, which has ruled Brazil since 2003. Corruption by elected officials and functionaries in the PT, as well as its adoption of neoliberal policies, has strengthened the right-wing opposition and severely demoralized PT supporters, allowing the Right to largely set the political agenda.

While it is essential for progressives to understand and oppose the reactionary movements calling for the impeachment of a democratically elected president, it is equally crucial to analyze the PT’s own offensive against its working-class base. A left-wing solution to the political and economic crisis entails taking a stand against both the reactionary impeachment movements and the anti-worker policies of the PT federal government.