Protests in Brazil: Bolsonaro says Judiciary may “suffer, something we don’t want”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro said on the morning of Tuesday (7), in a speech at the Esplanade of the Ministries during an act called by him for this September 7, that the Judiciary “may suffer, something that we do not want”. Without giving names or exactly saying what would be done, he stated that specific STF judges “paralyze the nation.”

“We are sworn to respect our Constitution. The specific Justice of the Supreme Court has lost the minimum conditions to continue within that court. We cannot continue to accept that a specific person continues to paralyze our nation. We cannot accept it. Or this power [Judiciary] may suffer what we don’t want. We know the value of each power of the Republic,” he said.

Bolsonaro also stated that the government would no longer accept measures imposed by state governors and mayors authorized by the Judiciary. “I believe that the moment has arrived,” he said, interrupted by shouts from supporters.

Before, the president flew over Brasília in a military helicopter, accompanied by government ministers and one of his sons, congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro (PSL-SP). He waved to protesters as the aircraft flew over the Praça dos Três Poderes and the Esplanade of Ministries.

The atmosphere is tense on the Esplanade, where supporters of the president entered during the early hours of the morning, breaking through the Federal District Military Police (PMDF) barriers.

Earlier in the day, in his first speech, Bolsonaro said that he would not admit that “other people play outside the four lines” of the Constitution during the raising of the flag.

“I will continue playing inside the four lines, but from now on, I will not admit that other people, one or two, play outside the four lines. The rule of the game is only one: respect for our Constitution, freedom of opinion, and always having our Constitution, which is the will of the people, above everyone,” said the head of the Brazilian Executive during an open social network live.