Bolsonaro, on arrested protesters: “treated like terrorists”

During the SA Summit 2023 event held on Monday 27 in Florida, former president Jair Bolsonaro said protesters who remain in jail in Brasilia are “treated like terrorists.”

“In Brazil, everything has become fake news, an attack against the democratic rule of law,” the former president noted.

“They will complete two months with 900 people arrested, treated as terrorists. Not a single penknife was shown with them when they were arrested. And they are in jail. Heads of families, ladies, mothers, grandmothers.”

Since January 8, the Federal District government has cataloged at least 916 inmates.

There are 611 men in Provisional Detention Center II and 305 women in the Women’s Penitentiary.

The former president criticized the statement of the Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino, according to which the people who participated in the demonstrations were “very dangerous” and cited the transfer of Marcola, leader of the PCC, to Brasília as an example.

“They brought Marcola back to society,” Bolsonaro recalled.

“This one is not at all dangerous, but these people who are in prison, 900 or so, are dangerous.”

FOREIGN POLICY

The PT government’s rapprochement with Latin American dictatorships and other countries also generated criticism from Bolsonaro.

To the former head of the Executive, Brazilian foreign policy should “seek countries that can offer something.”

During the previous administration, Brazil approached countries with liberal economic policies and started the process of joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The country has the support of the United States for the position.

“Whoever is currently in government, unfortunately, has been approaching dictatorships in South America and outside as well,” he noted.

“Now he is going on a tour of Africa. We should always seek, not despising the most humble, but seek countries that can offer us something.”

WON’T CRITICIZE BRAZIL

In another part of his speech, the former president said that, despite having an “aversion” to those in charge of the Executive Branch, he would not work against Brazil.

After the statement, the audience present at the event cheered Bolsonaro.

“Despite having an aversion to what is currently in politics there in the Executive, I will not work against my country,” Bolsonaro said.

With information from Revista Oeste