(VOVworld) – Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Brazil Friday in a parade to support former President Lula da Silva and the ruling government amid current political tensions. Police estimate that some 267,000 people in 55 cities joined the parades.

Unionists and members of the Workers Party demonstrate in support of former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Sao Paulo. (Photo: Nelson Almeida/AFP)

The parade came amidst a legal war between the government and the Supreme Court. President Dilma Rousseff’s decision to appoint former President Lula da Silva as Chief of Cabinet met obstacles after Justice Gilmar Mendes suspended the decision. The same day, a court in Rio de Janeiro made a similar decision to prevent Lula from cabinet post.

President Lula is facing an accusation of corruption and is demanded to hold in custody due to an involvement of a scandal involving state-run oil company Petrobras.