RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rio City Councilor Carlos Bolsonaro, son of President Jair Bolsonaro, wrote on his Twitter profile on Monday, September 9th, that the desired fast changes in the country will not take place through “democratic means”.
“By democratic means, the changes that Brazil seeks will not happen at the speed that we desire… if they do at all. All I see every day is the wheel spinning around its axis and those who have always controlled us continue to do so in different ways!” – Carlos Bolsonaro (@CarlosBolsonaro) September 9th, 2019
Appointed as the person in charge of the president’s strategy on social media, Carlos caused turmoil during the first six months of 2019 after attacks on members of his father’s administration but has been shying away from controversy in recent months.
President Jair Bolsonaro is in hospital in São Paulo after undergoing surgery on Sunday, September 8th, his fourth following the stabbing he suffered a year ago in Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais) during his campaign. Brazil’s vice president, General Hamilton Mourão, will be in charge of the Presidency until Thursday, September 12th.
The Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) has expressed its repudiation of the President’s son’s statements and affirmed that “democracy is the only possible option”.
Legislators linked to leftist parties have also spoken. Federal deputy Sâmia Bomfim (PSOL-SP) called the post “an unequivocal attack on democracy”.
“Carlos Bolsonaro, the president’s son, publicly declared his disbelief in democratic paths to “the transformation that Brazil wants”. It is a coup plotter and authoritarian discourse. It is an unequivocal attack on democracy. Is it a cry for dictatorship? There is an urgent need for democratic unity.”- Sâmia Bomfim (@samiabomfim) September 10th, 2019
Paulo Teixeira (PT-SP), also a federal deputy, criticized Carlos’ post and referred to the influence of the president’s children in the government. “It reinforces the dictatorial streak of the Bolsonaro family”.
@CarlosBolsonaro, the president’s son, says there is no transformation through democratic channels. Thus he confirms the dictatorial streak of the Bolsonaro family.- Paulo Teixeira (@pauloteixeira13) September 10th, 2019
Federal Deputy Tabata Amaral (PDT-SP) reinforced the support for democracy and said that “our progress will be based on plurality and not on censorship and repression”.
“According to Carlos Bolsonaro, democratic paths will not provide the transformation the country needs. What does he suggest? Tyranny? Democracy is the only way forward for a fair, free and inclusive society. Our progress will be based on plurality and not on censorship and repression.” – Tabata Amaral (@tabataamaralsp) September 10th, 2019
In the 2018 campaign, a statement by another son of the current president, federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PSL-SP), regarding the closing of the STF (Federal Supreme Court) was rebuffed in both legal and political circles.
In a video recorded in July and available on the Internet, but which surfaced a week before the second round of elections, he answered the question about a theoretical possibility of action by the Army in case the STF were to prevent Bolsonaro from taking over the presidency.
According to a Datafolha survey conducted last month, 70 percent of the population said they believe Jair Bolsonaro’s children are more of a nuisance than a help to his government.
Carlos Bolsonaro resonates with his followers
Before writing that there will be no swift changes in the country by democratic means, Carlos said that the current government is trying to put Brazil “on track,” but that “progress is ignored, and wrongdoers are forgotten”.
Carlos’ post quickly resonated with his followers. Part of the Internet users viewed the demonstration as a support for an authoritarian form of government.
Carlos’ influence in the Bolsonaro administration was the subject of criticism earlier this year by politicians and some military officers linked to the federal administration.
Jair Bolsonaro even defended his son in March, saying that there are people who want to drive them away, but “they won’t make it”.
Along with the message at the time, he published a photo in which he is supported by Carlos in the hospital corridor.
“Some people were very important in my campaign. But one stood out at the head of social media, with suggestions and content: Carlos Bolsonaro, my son. Not by chance, many who have never done anything for Brazil, would like to distance him from me,” wrote Bolsonaro.
“They won’t succeed: whether or not I’m in Brasília, I’ll continue to listen to his suggestions, not because he’s a son I raised, but because he is also someone I learned to admire and respect for his work and dedication,” he said.