“Super motion” calling for Bolsonaro’s impeachment filed in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Prompted by recent allegations of corruption in the purchase of vaccines, and other revelations of the Covid-19 committee, members of political parties, civil society representatives and former government allies submitted, on Wednesday, June 30, a “super motion” calling for the impeachment of Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro to the Chamber of Deputies.

The document recapitulates the content of 122 previously filed motions and points to more than 20 impeachable crimes committed by the president since the beginning of his mandate.

For the impeachment proceedings to advance they must be approved by Chamber president Arthur Lira (PP-AL), a Bolsonaro ally. The opposition is counting on pressure from the streets, which may increase due to accusations surrounding alleged irregularities in negotiations for the Covaxin vaccine and the request for a kickback in negotiations with Astrazeneca.

The “super motion” is signed by the presidents of political parties like the PT, PDT, PSB, PCdoB, PSol, PCB, PSTU, PCO, Cidadania, and Rede. In addition, the Brazilian Association of Jurists for Democracy (ABJD), the Black Coalition for Rights, and other civil organizations are supporting the initiative.

The motion also bears the signatures of environmentalists, attorneys, and former allies of the president, such as deputies Alexandre Frota (PSDB-SP) and Joice Hasselmann (PSL-SP).

“The latest accusations add further strength to our motion,” said deputy Alessandro Molon (PSB-RJ), leader of the opposition in the Chamber. Among the offences that Bolsonaro allegedly committed and that support the impeachment, the document cites the crime against the free exercise of power, threats to Congress, to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and interference in the Federal Police.

Other crimes pointed out are the violation of constitutionally guaranteed social rights and a crime against the country’s internal security, due to omissions and errors in the fight against the pandemic. Bolsonaro also allegedly allowed the violation of federal law of public order, by promoting protests against social isolation in the pandemic.

In a press conference, federal deputy Gleisi Hoffmann (PT-PR) said that the motion consolidates in one document the crimes of abuse of office committed by the president. “Here we begin a fight to free Brazil. I am sure that this, together with the fight in the streets, will help us reach the goal of bringing this government down,” she said.

Deputies Kim Kataguiri (DEM-SP) and Joice Hasselmann (PSL-SP) also spoke, alongside leftist legislators. “This is not about an ideological issue, this is about our Brazil. We currently have the worst president in the history of the Republic, the man who attacked all institutions,” said Joice, who was once the government leader in Congress at the start of Bolsonaro’s term.

Kataguiri stressed that, “under normal democratic conditions,” he would never be on the same platform as his leftist colleagues. “But how petty would I be if I refused to be part of this, to pursue the conviction, the ideal of overthrowing one of the most criminal presidents in the history of our country because of ideological pettiness. No. It is something bigger than that. It is something historical,” he said.

The alleged crimes cited in the motion:

1. Crime against the federal government’s political existence.
Deed: fostering conflict with other nations

2. Hostility against foreign nation.
Deed: xenophobic statements against Cuban doctors

3. Crime against the free exercise of the branches of government.
Deed: threats to Congress and the Federal Supreme Court, and interference with the Federal Police

4. Attempt to dissolve or hinder the functioning of Congress.
Deed: the president’s statements and involvement in anti-democratic rallies

5. Threat against any representative of the nation in order to coerce him/her.
Deed: he said he would have to “fight” Senator Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP), member of the Covid investigative committee

6. Oppose the free exercise of the Judicial branch.
Deed: interfering with the Federal Police

7. Threat to constrain a judge.
Deed: attacks on the Supreme Court

8. Crime against the free exercise of political, individual and social rights.
Deed: omissions and errors in fighting the pandemic

9. Using authorities under his immediate subordination to abuse power.
Deed: changes in the Armed Forces and interference in the Federal Police

10. Subverting or trying to subvert the political and social order.
Deed: threatening governmental institutions

11. Inciting military personnel to disobey the law or infringe discipline.
Deed: attending a rally in favor of military intervention

12. Instigating animosity within the armed law enforcement.
Deed: allies incited mutiny in the case of a police officer killed by other police officers in Salvador

13. Violation of constitutionally guaranteed social rights.
Deed: omissions and errors in fighting the pandemic

14. Crime against the country’s internal security.
Deed: omissions and errors in fighting the pandemic

15. Decree a state of siege when there is no serious internal commotion.
Deed: compared governors’ measures to a state of siege

16. Allowing the violation of federal law of public order.
Deed: promoting an uprising against social isolation in the pandemic

17. Crime against probity in administration.
Deed: pandemic management and attacks on the electoral process

18. Issuing orders contrary to the Constitution.
Deed: changes in the Armed Forces

19. Behaving in a manner incompatible with the propriety of governmental officials.
Deed: Lies to obtain political advantage

20. Neglecting the conservation of national heritage.
Deed: financial management in the pandemic and delays in meeting the demands of states and municipalities in the health crisis

21. Crime against the execution of judicial decisions.
Deed: failure to create a protection plan for indigenous people in the pandemic, ordered by the STF.

Source: Exame