Bolsonaro criticizes arrest of coup plotters: No provision in law – 02/06/2023 – Power

Former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) criticized the arrest of participants in the January 8 coup acts and said there was no specific legislation to punish attacks against the democratic rule of law and the spread of fake news in the country.

The statement was given in an interview with right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk, founder of a conservative organization and supporter of former US President Donald Trump. Kirk is also investigated for involvement in the invasion of the Capitol, which took place in 2021. He hosted the former president at an event promoted on Friday (3), in Miami.

“The left basically blames me for that act on the 8th, which we all disagree with, with invasions and depredations, trying to leave the left alone, without opposition in Brazil”, said the former president.

Bolsonaro is the target of several actions calling for his ineligibility for abuse of power in the election in which he ran for re-election, without success. He is also in the crosshairs of investigations into the attacks in the federal capital, which are investigating his role as an encourager due to his history of coup statements during his term.

“Today, we have more than a thousand people arrested in Brazil. Many people had their pages taken down and demonetized. The accusation is fake news or an attack against the democratic rule of law. And fake news and an attack against the democratic rule of law are not it is foreseen in the legislation so that there is punishment for people who practice this. What is fake news for me and not for you?”, he said to the influencer.

Experts heard by Sheet claim, however, that Article 359-L of the Penal Code provides for imprisonment of 4 to 8 years for anyone who “attempts, using violence or serious threat, to abolish the democratic rule of law, preventing or restricting the exercise of constitutional powers”.

Bolsonaro still criticized, in a veiled way, the STF (Federal Supreme Court). According to him, there is a consensus that the Judiciary has extrapolated its decisions, but there is no force capable of exercising a power of checks and balances in the country.

“It’s not the first article like here, article 220 of our Constitution [que trata da liberdade de expressão]. Unfortunately it is completely ignored, why? These judges, few, understood that anything goes to defend democracy, as if I were a dictator.”

He also said he would remain in politics, intending to coordinate an opposition to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s (PT) government when he returns to Brazil, something he said he would do in the coming weeks.

“There is a very strong desire on the part of many Brazilians for me to return as soon as possible. I intend, in the coming weeks, to return and make a responsible opposition against the current government. Although, in 30 days, they have already done a lot wrong; I usually say that, in Brazil, there is no need for opposition to the PT government.”

He said he has to stay in politics. “That’s what I discovered myself, a little late, perhaps. But due to the absence of right-wing leaders in Brazil, I see myself obliged to coordinate these new leaders that have emerged so that Brazil does not plunge into socialism or communism once and for all. .”