By Rhuan C. Soletti
Last Tuesday (9), Folha de São Paulo published a report denouncing pro-Lula influencers for “publishing distorted or false information, in addition to attacks on journalists.”
According to the newspaper, the far-left activists allegedly repeat “tactics of pro-Bolsonaro digital militants.”
In the report, the newspaper claims that some of those accused of spreading false information are among the influencers received by Lula at a breakfast meeting at the Planalto Palace.
According to Folha, in addition to defending the extreme-left government on the networks, they use a counter-attacking tactic in moments of attrition, shooting lies against the former president’s family, Jair Bolsonaro (PL), to “divert the focus.”
As examples of the group’s actions, the newspaper cited the following:
- the repercussion of lies about unfounded accusations that the Bolsonaro family would have “disappeared with the furniture of the official residence”;
- the defense of the first lady, Janja, after making luxurious purchases in Europe;
- the narrative of the “fake stabbing”;
- and the insistence on the government’s version of the acts of January 8.
FURNITURE
According to Folha, whenever Lula is criticized on social networks, one of the militants’ favorite targets is the former first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro, who became president of PL Mulher and has been tipped to run in the next elections.
“With each news of benefits and privileges involving Lula, it is against her (Michelle) that the charge of attacks is turned,” said the newspaper
When Folha revealed that the PT government had bought a sofa worth R$65,000 and a bed worth R$42,000 for the Alvorada Palace, the “pro-Lula digital militia” spread, without proof, the version that the Bolsonaro family had “disappeared with the furniture of the official residence.”
The accusations were made by the influencer, Ronny Teles, who retweeted a video published by Michelle Bolsonaro, distorting her words and implying that she took the furniture because “it was hers.”
TIE
In another specific case against Michelle, leftist influencer Thiago Reis hit back at the criticism Janja suffered for going to a luxury store in Lisbon when the government was planning to tax international shipments of up to US$50.
“Michelle ostentatious buying R$20,000 shoes with public money in Dubai, the press: cri cri cri cri… Janja buying a tie for Lula with her own money, the press: SCANDAL, BUYING IN A LUXURY STORE,” wrote the influencer.
Even with the trips, there were no accusations of using public money to buy shoes.
The influencer has 367,000 followers on Twitter and 1.2 million on Youtube.
According to Folha, Thiago dos Reis also uses many of his posts to attack the press, what he calls “jornalixos” [journal+rubbish].
STABBING
Folha also cited the theories created by the left about the assassination attempt launched by a Psol militant against the then-candidate, Jair Bolsonaro, in 2018.
The PT supporters usually call the crime “fake,” claiming that the lack of blood at the time of the stabbing would indicate that “it was all rigged.”
“Asking doesn’t offend: after the fake vaccination card, does anyone doubt the fakeada,” [fake+stab] wrote a pro-Lula influencer on the networks.
“Bolsonaro’s advisors arrested for vaccination fraud were in Juiz de Fora on the hoax day. The coup started there,” wrote another.
Folha also denounced the extreme-left website Brasil 247 for endorsing the fanciful “fakeada” thesis, which has also been defended by the Minister of Communications, Paulo Pimenta.
In a recent interview, Pimenta said that “the ‘fakeada’ is not the stabbing; it is the story created around the episode,” he said.
After the fall of GSI Minister Gonçalves Dias, influencer João Antônio Marques recorded a video in which he blames, among others, the press for what happened.
“What certainty do we have on April 24, 2023? The certainty we have is that General Gonçalves Dias, former commander of the GSI, is innocent, that General Gonçalves Dias, in the Lula government, was boycotted, and that they used the worst journalistic tools to bring down someone who was not in cahoots with the Bolsonarists on that fateful day,” he said,
Other Lula supporters openly attacked the CNN Brasil journalist who had access to images of the Planalto on the day of the “invasion”.
Folha also points out that there are still members of parliament and politicians linked to the PT involved in spreading false news.
One of them is the federal congressman André Janones (Avante-MG), with a combative profile.
He has been criticized, even by PT supporters, for using distorted and sensationalist news about his opponents.
REACTION
When Rony Telles saw himself quoted in the article, he ironically said: “I saw my name in that article? Only those who want to bother me even more, follow me!
Without mentioning the clear left-wing bias of the newspaper, some profiles accused Folha of acting in favor of “Bolsonarism”.
Other profiles congratulated the publication.
Eu vi meu nome aí nesse artigo?? Só me segue quem tiver afim de incomodar mais ainda! pic.twitter.com/70XH7rEpQZ
— Canal Ronny Teles (@RonnyCombate) May 9, 2023
A fascistoide @folha que reinava junto com o bozonarismo perdendo seu espaço junto. Tchau @folha Aqui é democracia
— T!A Onça 🐆🚩 (@TiaAbigail2) May 9, 2023
News Brazil, English news Brazil, Folha de São Paulo, false information