Bolsonaro Again Endorses Anti-democratic Protest; Says He Will No Longer ‘Allow Interference’

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Sunday, May 3rd, President Jair Bolsonaro took part in yet another demonstration advocating both government and anti-democratic measures at the Ministries Esplanade in Brasília.

The demonstrators called for military intervention and criticized Chamber president, Rodrigo Maia, Supreme Court justices, and former Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Sérgio Moro – who is accusing the President of trying to politically interfere in the Federal Police to protect family members.

In a statement broadcast live on social media, Bolsonaro said: “We have the Armed Forces at the people’s side, for law, for order, for democracy, for freedom”.

“We want the best for our country. We want true independence for the three powers, not just a letter in the Constitution, we do not want that. No more interference. We will not allow any further interference. Patience is over. Let’s take Brazil forward. I believe in the Brazilian people and we all believe in Brazil.”

In the end, the President said, “I pray to God we don’t have any problems this week. Because we’ve reached the limit, there’s no more talking. From now on, we will not only demand, but we will enforce the Constitution”.

On Thursday, April 30th, Bolsonaro accused STF Justice Alexandre de Moraes of making a “political” decision by blocking the appointment of delegate Alexandre Ramagem to the general command of the Federal Police (PF). During the live broadcast, the President again criticized what he terms “interference”.

“It [The Constitution] will be complied with at any cost. And it’s a two-way [street]. Not one-way, not one-sided. Tomorrow we’ll appoint a new PF director and Brazil will follow its course.”

Without a mask, Bolsonaro took his 9-year-old daughter Laura to the Planalto Palace, from where he waved to demonstrators crowding in front of the building. The President did not walk down to the railing but allowed access to demonstrators who climbed the ramp and stretched out the Brazilian flag.

While Bolsonaro was addressing demonstrators, part of the group attacked the press who were covering the demonstration. The State Police was forced to set up an improvised cordon to prevent the attacks.

Jurists, politicians, and organizations have rejected the attacks on the press and the protest’s anti-democratic and unconstitutional agendas. Chamber president Rodrigo Maia said that “it is up to democratic institutions to enforce legal order on a group that mistakes politics for terror”.

Pro-government protest

Demonstrators held a motorcade in Brasília on Sunday morning, April 3rd, in defense of President Jair Bolsonaro. The demonstration at the Ministries Esplanade was summoned through social media.

The meeting began at 10 AM in the Museum of the Republic. The group took up all the lanes of the Monumental Axis, around the central Intercity bus station. Traffic was still blocked at 1:30 PM.

Demonstrators displayed Brazilian flags and banners against Rodrigo Maia and with anti-democratic and anti-constitutional demands, such as “military intervention with Bolsonaro” and “Congress, out. STF saboteurs”.

Other crowds

On Saturday, May 2nd, Bolsonaro visited a gas station on BR-040 highway, in Cristalina, just outside the Federal District, creating yet another crowd. He again advocated relaxing social isolation and said people should wear masks on the street.

“Let’s be careful and wear a mask,” he said. Despite this, the President himself wore his mask incorrectly, removed the protection to speak, and to take pictures.

There was a moment when the President took his hand to his nose and then, using the same hand, greeted supporters. Bringing your hand to your nose is one of the main forms of infecting and spreading the virus.

Bolsonaro’s first involvement in such a demonstration, in the midst of the pandemic, was on March 15th. At that time, Brazil already had confirmed Covid-19 cases and campaigns for social isolation, but no deaths.

The President also had a specific justification for isolation, for having taken part in an official visit to Miami in the United States. At least 23 of his delegation’s members had Covid-19 soon after their return.

Since the first demonstration, in less than two months, Brazil has reached 97,100 confirmed cases of infection and 6,761 deaths, according to data released by the Ministry of Health on Saturday.

Source: G1