RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff took to the airwaves on Tuesday to deliver a pre-taped address trying to rally the nation behind the World Cup that begins this week.
Rousseff said that despite the sharp anti-Cup protests the country has lived through for a year and paralyzing work strikes causing havoc in many of its cities, all Brazilians should stand behind their team as it prepares for the opening match this Thursday.
The embattled president told soccer players that “below that green and yellow jersey you represent a powerful legacy of the Brazilian people. The national side represents our nationality.”
The speech was a clear effort by Rousseff to bat down the critics of the Cup and to lift the spirits of a nation that many say has never seen a flatter pre-World Cup mood.
The protests and grinding work stoppages in key sectors like security, education and transport have complicated the daily lives of many Brazilians.
Rousseff also rebuked those who criticize the $11.5 billion being spent on the World Cup. Responding to allegations of corruption, she said that all spending is being analyzed and anybody responsible for misspent funds will be punished.
