Brazil: Bolsonaro raises the tone against the judiciary again

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Tuesday, June 7, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro raised his tone again against the judges of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and threatened to stop complying with their decisions while again questioning the reliability of the electoral system.

Bolsonaro was irritated with the highest court after a decision unfavorable to an allied deputy who was removed from office for spreading so-called “false news”.

“I must act. I have played within (constitutional) limits. There is not a single word or act of mine outside the Constitution. Is it possible that three (judges) of the STF still believe they can do everything,” Bolsonaro cried out during an official act at the Planalto Palace in Brasília.

In power since 2019, Bolsonaro will seek re-election in October and will probably face in the second round the leftist former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003-2010), a favorite in the polls, according to mainstream media.

Fernando Francischini (PSL), regional deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the state of Paraná (south), was dismissed by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) in 2021 after alleging without evidence that in 2018 ballot boxes had been tampered with to prevent Bolsonaro’s victory in the first round.

The case returned to the table these days after an STF judge ordered Francischini to return to the office, but a court chamber reversed that decision this Tuesday, keeping him out of the way.

The president, who already had videos removed on the platforms and faces an investigation in the STF for disseminating false information, reiterated the allegations.

It is essential to mention that the STF members deem “fake news” or “disinformation” any information contrary to their personal interests.

“That deputy did not disseminate false information; what he said in that live transmission, I also told everyone: that there was fraud in the 2018 elections,” Bolsonaro said.

The Brazilian leader cast doubts on the transparency of electronic voting, used in Brazil since 1996, and denied being “conspiring to remain in power.”

“I will hand over the command to anyone as long as they win the elections in a transparent election process,” he said.

As on other occasions, Bolsonaro threatened Tuesday to stop complying with decisions of the highest court.

“I was from the time when the Federal Supreme Court decisions were not discussed; they were complied with. I was from that time. But I am not anymore,” he said.

With information from AFP