Deputies show solidarity with Jordy after the PF search

Several parliamentarians from the Liberal Party (PL) published messages on their social networks in support of Federal Deputy Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ) who was the main target this Thursday morning of a search and seizure action by the Federal Police (PF) related to the Lesa Pátria operation, on the acts of January 8, 2023.

Representative Bia Kicis (PL-DF) stated that the situation is absurd. “This is violence against a Power. Breaking into a parliamentarian’s home and office. And let it be said that a parliamentarian who did not commit a crime, is a dedicated leader and, just by chance, a pre-candidate for Mayor of Niterói. All my solidarity with you, Carlos Jordy!”

Representative Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) commented “Dictatorship”, when reposting the video. Deputy leader of the opposition in the Chamber, deputy Maurício Marcon (PODE-RS) offered his solidarity to one of the “most honest and correct deputies this country has”.

Representative Ubiratan Sanderson (PL-RS), who is a federal police officer and president of the Public Security and Combating Organized Crime Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, highlighted the National Congress’ inaction in the face of the STF’s abuses. “Lesa Pátria is the omission of the Brazilian parliament, which for 4 years has allowed the endless cowardice and abuses of STF ministers. Strength to the courageous and honest opposition leader Carlos Jordy and always count on me!”

When commenting on Jordy’s video, the federal deputy of the PL of Goiás, Gustavo Gayer, said that Brazil was on par with Venezuela, and declared his “total and unrestricted solidarity with our opposition leader”. Deputy Rodolfo Nogueira (PL-MS) also declared his solidarity with the supporter. “What we are experiencing is absurd, an outsized persecution of good people. God is with you, brother!”

Senator Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ) stated that “we are living in dark times, pages of our history that we believed were a thing of the past”. He also said that the “action of the Supreme Power is an obvious gesture of persecution and political violence against a parliamentarian and Congress itself. It is proof of one Power over another.”

According to the senator, an action like this against a parliamentarian “would only be justified if there were concrete and unequivocal evidence and facts because, if not, it threatens all opposition to the current government, with the intention of silencing and intimidating it. Our democracy remains shaken because some with the purpose of defending it captured it.”

Senator for the PL of Rio Grande do Norte, Rogério Marinho highlighted that it is urgent to reestablish the democratic order in Brazil, with the “necessary rebalancing between powers, transparency and the end of exceptional investigations that have become routine”. The senator stated that “this inquisitorial climate” is incompatible with democracy, which he classified as “protected” in Brazil.

Abuses pose a risk to democracy

Former deputy Deltan Dallagnol, whose mandate was revoked by the TSE in May last year, expressed his concern about what happened to Jordy. In a reference to the act carried out by the federal government this year, in memory of 8/1, Dallagnol said that in an “unshaken democracy” the measures are worrying for three reasons:

1. “The searches took place after the STF and Moraes suffered harsh criticism for the fact that the STF does not have the competence to judge the defendants of January 8th, without a privileged forum.”
2. “If the deputy supported protest acts on January 8th, without having encouraged or participated in crimes, his behavior is legitimate. Many protests are carried out without crimes being committed(…) Is there actual evidence of crimes or are there mere pretexts?”
3. “The measure is quite serious and was taken against the leader of the opposition in the Chamber, one of the main critics of the STF. In the unshaken democracy of Lula and the STF, will this be seen as normal? If Moraes was the target of January 8th and Jordy is one of your main critics, do you have the right to decide?”

Finally, the former deputy concludes by saying that the abuses committed by the STF, which “are increasing”, represent the “real risk” “to our democracy”.

Deputy for PL of São Paulo, Luiz Philippe de Orleans e Bragança questioned whether the search and seizure action followed due legal process or whether it was initiated monocratically. He also asked about the role of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, since the STF judge no longer needs it. At the end of its publication, he still defended the reform of the judiciary as a “priority for the good of true democracy and the integrity of institutions”.

Jordy says the action is aimed at municipal elections

The searches carried out by the PF in Jordy’s office and house in Brasília were triggered in the 24th phase of Operation Lesa Pátria, in which ten search and seizure warrants are being carried out by the Federal Police issued by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, from Federal Supreme Court (STF). The objective of the operation is to identify people who planned and financed the acts of January 8, 2023.

Jordy, who was the leader of the opposition to the government in the Chamber of Deputies in 2023, also published a video on social networks in which he narrates how the PF’s approach was and says that the search is “an authoritarian measure, without foundation, without any evidence, which only aims to persecute, intimidate and create a narrative on the eve of a municipal election”.

The deputy claimed that the connection they are making with 8/1 is “unbelievable”, and that the search and seizure warrant issued against him confirms a state of “dictatorship”. He stated that at no time had he incited or told people that the 8/1 had been correct.

“At no time was I in the barracks in those camps, I never supported any type of act, either before or after, although people had every right to demonstrate against the elected government. It is totally arbitrary”, said the deputy, classifying the operation as an “authoritarian measure” with an “authoritarian and intimidating bias”.

He also classified the operation as “persecution” of government opponents, with an eye on this year’s municipal elections, as he is a pre-candidate for mayor of Niterói (RJ), his political base.