Amazonian right-wing politicians call on voters to rally in support of Bolsonaro

Amazonian right-wing politicians used social media to call on the population to participate in a demonstration that will take place on Avenida Paulista, in São Paulo, on February 25th, in support of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL). The act is so that the former president “can defend himself” against accusations regarding an investigation by the Federal Police (PF), which point to the former president’s role in planning a coup d’état to remain in power.

Bolsonaro recorded a video calling supporters to the act and the message began to be spread by allies on Monday (12) and Thursday (15). In the video, the former president asks supporters not to carry banners and posters against anyone and speaks of an act of support for what he calls the “democratic state of law”. “At this event I want to defend myself against all the accusations that have been made against me in recent months,” he said.

Federal deputy Captain Alberto Neto (PL), who was at Bolsonaro’s house for several days before the parliamentary recess, shared Bolsonaro’s video on his social networks, on Friday (16).

“An important appeal from our President Bolsonaro to patriots across Brazil. See you on Av. Paulista, on 02/25 at 3 pm”, he published.

“We are going to carry out the biggest movement in the history of this country, not only in favor of the defense of President Bolsonaro, but, mainly, in defense of Brazilian democracy, which can never be put into perspective”, added the deputy in another publication in support of the former president.

On Thursday (15), Alberto Neto (PL-AM) was alongside president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), deputy Luciano Zucco (PL-RS), pastor Silas Malafaia and other right-wing supporters, in Brasília to organize the democratic act on the 25th on Avenida Paulista, in São Paulo.

“We are going to make the biggest movement in the history of this country, not only in favor of the defense of President Bolsonaro, but, mainly, in defense of Brazilian democracy, which can never be relativized”, highlighted deputy Alberto Neto.

“Brazil is a democracy and its people will always be free”, emphasized the deputy, highlighting the importance of right-wing unity to preserve democratic values.

State deputy Débora Menezes (PL) and her father, Coronel Menezes (PL), also shared the convocation video on their social networks.

“On the 25th, event in Paulista. Thank you for understanding. Jair Bolsonaro”, they shared on their networks.

Delegate Péricles, also a state deputy and vice-president of the state executive in Amazonas, did not fail to encourage his followers to participate in the demonstration.

“The event on February 25th will only be on Avenida Paulista. God, Country, Family and Freedom!”

In addition to the deputies, councilor Captain Carpê (Republicans), published Bolsonaro’s video and questioned his followers to find out if they would go to the event if there was a demonstration in Manaus.

“Would you go to a demonstration in support of former president Bolsonaro? Against all the persecution that the right has been suffering in Brazil, former president Bolsonaro decided to call a demonstration on Avenida Paulista on February 25th. The intention is to combat the lies and expose the persecutions that are taking place in Brazil, mainly to try to silence the right. If there was this demonstration in Manaus, would you go?”

In the comments, some followers responded yes, however, others said no. “The guy put Abin to monitor his opponents and wants to demonstrate in favor of democracy hahaha”, commented one of the internet users.

The demonstration is scheduled to take place on February 25th and will be broadcast live on the former president’s social networks at 3 pm.

Political polarization

The last decade has shown political polarization in elections, and this contrast is also reflected in Amazonas. As the race for Mayor and City Council approaches, left-wing parties are lining up candidacies to position themselves as the opposition and provide an alternative solution for voters.

In the capital and in the interior of Amazonas there is a disparity between support for candidates in the elections. In 2022, the year of the last presidential election, elected president Luís Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) won in more than half of the State’s municipalities, reaching 51.1% against 48.90% for Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

In the land of the boi-bumbá, Lula got 82.56%, other municipalities also surpassed 80% of votes in favor of the PT president. Of the 62 municipalities in Amazonas, Bolsonaro won in only four. The capital of Amazonas is also considered a Bolsonaro capital, due to the population’s support for Jair Bolsonaro’s policies.

Despite this scenario for the presidential elections, political analyst Carlos Santiago stated that left-wing parties in Amazonas are weakened, compared to the power they had years ago. The absence of militancy and an agenda to manage the cities also marks the acronyms, as well as the lack of consensus to choose a name for the dispute.

“Today’s left-wing parties are not even 1/3 of the political strength they once had in Amazonas, when they had mandates from senators, state and federal deputies, and in City Hall. What we have today are old leaders, there is no renewal of staff and acronyms present enormous difficulty in reaching consensus and nominating a name”,

declared.

According to Santiago, for this year’s elections, the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) is demonstrating an approach to supporting the president of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Amazonas (Aleam) and state deputy, Roberto Cidade, pre-candidate for União Brasil. The Workers’ Party (PT) is also moving toward supporting candidates from outside the party. The Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL) and Rede, from the point of view of political expression, are considered “dwarfs” in Amazonas.

Investigation

The Federal Police stated in a report delivered to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) that data gathered in the investigation “prove” that former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) “analyzed and changed” a draft decree that predicted a coup d’état. Messages tracked during the investigation into the attempted coup d’état show that the former president, in December 2022, received the text and made changes to it. According to the investigation, the former representative maintained in the text the order for the arrest of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Court.

In a statement, Bolsonaro’s defense denied that he had participated in the “drafting of any decree that aimed to illegally alter the Democratic Rule of Law”.

“Any digressions in this regard do not reflect the expression of the truth, as everyone knows that the former president never encouraged any movement in this direction, including publicly speaking out on his social networks against the acts of vandalism that took place on 01/08 ”,

Lawyers Paulo Cunha Bueno and Daniel Tesser said in a note.

The document proposed the establishment of a state of siege in the country. The measure, provided for by the Federal Constitution, is for situations of “serious commotion with national repercussion” or “declaration of a state of war or response to foreign armed aggression”. The request is presented by the President of the Republic, but depends on approval by the National Congress.

Read more:

Political polarization between right and left continues to mark electoral disputes in Amazonas

Bolsonaro alleges bias and calls for Moraes to be removed from the coup investigation

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