Shropshire Star
Close

In Pictures: Colourful Rio carnival takes on political tone

Some of Sunday night’s entries blasted the country’s political leadership at a moment of economic slump and political scandal.

Published
Performers from Mangueira samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Leo Correa/AP)

An anti-establishment tone has echoed through this year’s carnival celebrations in Brazil.

Sunday night’s parade at Rio’s Sambadrome featured entries that blasted the country’s political leadership at a moment of economic slump and political scandal.

A puppet depicting Rio mayor Marcelo Crivella, who has cut city funding for samba schools, stands on the top of a float which says 'Mayor sin is not to enjoy the Carnival' (Leo Correa/AP)
A puppet depicting Rio mayor Marcelo Crivella, who has cut city funding for samba schools, stands on the top of a float which says ‘Mayor sin is not to enjoy the Carnival’ (Leo Correa/AP)
The samba parades used to be a magnet for politicians before a sprawling corruption investigation around state-run oil giant Petrobras began in 2014 (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)
The samba parades used to be a magnet for politicians before a sprawling corruption investigation around state-run oil giant Petrobras began in 2014 (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)
Along with the Rio mayor, President Michel Temer and Rio de Janeiro state Governor Luiz Fernando Pezao were expected to skip the two-day bash at the Sambadrome (Leo Correa/AP)
Along with the Rio mayor, President Michel Temer and Rio de Janeiro state Governor Luiz Fernando Pezao were expected to skip the two-day bash at the Sambadrome (Leo Correa/AP)
Mr Crivella was photographed by the newspaper O Globo at Sao Paulo's international airport near the time the parade began, while Mr Pezao's whereabouts were not disclosed (Leo Correa/AP)
Mr Crivella was photographed by the newspaper O Globo at Sao Paulo’s international airport near the time the parade began, while Mr Pezao’s whereabouts were not disclosed (Leo Correa/AP)
But the political message is clearly more present this time than in recent years (Leo Correa/AP)
But the political message is clearly more present this time than in recent years (Leo Correa/AP)
The front-runner in opinion polls is former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but he faces a growing risk of being arrested within weeks following a corruption conviction (Leo Correa/AP)
The front-runner in opinion polls is former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but he faces a growing risk of being arrested within weeks following a corruption conviction (Leo Correa/AP)
Sao Paulo Mayor Joao Doria, who was until recently seen as a presidential hopeful, heard insults as he visited that city's sambadrome (Leo Correa/AP)
Sao Paulo Mayor Joao Doria, who was until recently seen as a presidential hopeful, heard insults as he visited that city’s sambadrome (Leo Correa/AP)
Later Mr Doria used Twitter to say he was just being polite when he tried to shake hands and take photos with singer Zeca Pagodinho, who is also a friend of Mr Da Silva's (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)
Later Mr Doria used Twitter to say he was just being polite when he tried to shake hands and take photos with singer Zeca Pagodinho, who is also a friend of Mr Da Silva’s (Silvia Izquierdo/AP)
Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.
Similar stories
Most popular