Bolsonaro supporters say trial at TSE was political

Deputies from the support base of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) demonstrated after the vote by Minister Cármen Lúcia, who formed a majority in the judgment of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) determining the politician’s ineligibility for eight years.

Deputy Rodolfo Nogueira (PL-MS) called the trial a legal aberration. “The ineligibility of President Jair Bolsonaro, which was implemented today by the TSE, is a major legal aberration. There is no legal basis for making the greatest leader of the right ineligible. It is a totally political judgment”, said Deputy Nogueira.

Deputy Caroline De Toni (PL-SC) emphasized that the fact will not make the Brazilian right back. “A political trial, one of the most shameful episodes in Brazil’s recent history, made Bolsonaro ineligible. Today, the Electoral Court silenced 58 million votes. The right will not shrink back, we will not back down. The fight for our Brazil is just beginning”, said the congresswoman.

Despite not citing the judgment, after Minister Cármen Lúcia’s vote was declared, Bolsonaro’s former minister, Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI) used his Twitter account to express himself. “They can hurt the present. They can cloud today, but no one can prevent the future. Nobody can forbid tomorrow. Hope is more alive than ever. The hope of a more sovereign Brazil, of a dream that today we know can come true. Some will say: we only have hope left. Others will say: hope is everything. We don’t need anything else,” said the senator.

Valdemar Costa Neto, president of the PL, also manifested himself through his Twitter account. He said it was “the first time in human history that a former president has lost political rights for speaking out”. The president emphasized the effort that the party will make from now on. “We are going to work double time and show our loyalty to President Bolsonaro. You can believe that today’s injustice will be able to reveal the strongest voter in the nation. And the result of this will be recorded in the 2024 and 2026 elections. More than ever, Brazil needs strength. It’s time to overcome. Bolsonaro is the greatest popular leader since redemocratization and will continue to be”, said Costa Neto.

Another former minister of Bolsonaro, Senator Rogério Marinho (PL-RN) released a video in which he appears showing solidarity and referring to Bolsonaro as “the one who transformed Brazil and awakened love for the homeland throughout the country”. “As leader of the opposition in the Senate, I have a responsibility to defend the economic legacy that brought us out of the greatest recession in our history. […]. We will remain united around these ideas, which are a legacy for future generations”, said the senator, also indicating loyalty to the former president.

Former vice president on Bolsonaro’s ticket, senator Hamilton Mourão (Republicanos-RS) commented on the result of the trial, recalling the impeachment of former deputy Deltan Dallagnol (Podemos-PR). “Thus, Brazil’s electoral justice is notable for canceling the popular will, as it did with @deltanmd now it does with @jairbolsonaro. “Oh, Tempora, Oh Mores”…”, said senator Mourão, quoting the famous phrase of the Roman statesman Cícero, which literally translates as “Oh the times! Oh the customs!”.

Senator Jorge Seif (PL-SC), who was Secretary of Fisheries during the Bolsonaro government, pointed out that the conviction was against “a man who has not committed a crime of corruption”. “The Lord [ex-presidente Bolsonaro] he made many leaders in Brazil and his legacy does not end. You are the greatest political leader that Brazil has, especially on the right. […] Count on us. We are with you, and above all we are with Brazilians of good and good. We cannot lose our faith or our hope, because that hope and that faith that Bolsonaro awakened and sowed in each of us is alive as never before,” said the senator in a video.