Uprising: Supreme Court authorizes military police to act against pro-Bolsonaro truckers blocking roads

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Tuesday (Nov. 1) authorized the state’s military police (MP) to clear highways, including federal highways, across Brazil that supporters of Jair Bolsonaro block (PL, right).

With the decision, the MPs can act as long as the governors agree.

Moraes said the blockades,, which are part of a countrywide pro-Bolsonaro uprising, affect public safety throughout the state. The judge authorized a fine and the arrest of those responsible for the blocking.

“The blockade affects not only the regularity of traffic on the highways but, above all, public safety throughout the country, including through conduct that is classified as a crime against democratic institutions in Law 14.197/2021,” the decision says.

(The police are starting to join with the Bolsonarista truck drivers who are protesting the results of the Brazilian election)

With the decision, state military police officers are authorized to identify trucks and arrest people who commit crimes against the democratic rule of law, which is enshrined in Law 14.197.

Moraes also stipulated that the police officers transmit the identification of the trucks used in the blockades to the judiciary to impose a fine of R$100 thousand (US$19,000) per hour on the owners.

According to the PRF (Federal Highway Police), 227 federal highways have been interrupted or closed as of 9 am today (Nov. 1).

Bolsonaro supporters have been blocking roads since Sunday (Oct. 30) in protest of the reported election results by the electoral high court, which they call fraudulent.

President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT, left) won the election, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal TSE said.

However, Jair Bolsonaro has not acknowledged this statement to date.

According to the TSE da Silva received 50.90% compared to 49.10% for Bolsonaro.

However, more and more voices are emerging that speak of electoral fraud.

The Justice had already determined that the PRF and state military police would take immediate action to clear illegally occupied streets.

This decision was in response to the request of the CNT (National Association of Transport).

Most STF Justices voted to uphold Moraes’ decision. The result is 9 to 0. The virtual plenary session will continue until Tuesday (Nov. 1) at 11:59 pm

At the end of Monday night (Oct. 31), Moraes had decided to unblock the roads.

He also set a fine of R$ 100,000 per hour of non-compliance, starting at midnight on Tuesday (Nov. 1), payable directly to the general director of the PRF, Silvinei Vasques.

The decision also states that Vasques can be arrested in flagrante delicto and expelled for insubordination if the order is not complied with.

According to Moraes, although the right to strike is enshrined in the Constitution, it is not guaranteed.

He also said that there is an obvious omission of the PRF that “would not fulfill its constitutional and legal mission.”

More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

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