Jordy: Bolsonarists fear more actions and criticize Moraes – 01/18/2024 – Power

Allies of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) came out in defense of deputy Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ), the target of a Federal Politics operation this Thursday (18), and reinforced their criticism of the minister of the STF (Supreme Federal Court) Alexandre de Moraes —who authorized search and seizure measures against the parliamentarian.

The analysis of people close to the former president is that the action of the Federal Police helps to consolidate the polarization in the country and the discourse of persecution against Bolsonaro supporters by the magistrate.

Despite the diagnosis that the action does not have a major impact on the image of the political group headed by Bolsonaro, the operation had the effect of spreading fear among the former president’s allies.

Other parliamentarians mention in private conversations that they also had contact with organizers of the coup camps in front of barracks after the 2022 election. If this is the parameter, they say, they could also suffer from police actions.

The fear was heightened by the fact that Jordy’s cell phone had been seized, as well as other documents that were at his addresses. As the deputy is leader of the opposition in the Chamber and has good contact with the entire Bolsonaro base, the PF can have access to his dialogues with the majority of opposition members of the House.

Despite complaints from Bolsonaro’s allies of omission regarding the operation within the Chamber, the President of the House, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), has so far not commented on the case.

Oppositionists linked to Bolsonaro used social media to criticize the operation and defend Jordy.

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), who is the member of the family that has the closest relationship with the Judiciary and in some cases avoids criticizing the Supreme Court, classified the operation as “obvious political persecution combined with a smile of revenge in the corner of his mouth “.

“The way in which this investigation is being conducted is much more ‘injurious to the country’ than January 8 itself. Continuing it, in addition to authoritarianism and arrogance, is the same as wanting to blame the woman who was raped, that is, whoever defends democracy has become wrong,” he wrote on social media.

The president of the PL, Valdemar Costa Neto, came to the defense of his party member and stated that “this escalation of violence by the Judiciary against opposition parliamentarians and members of the public needs to be contained, for the good of Brazilian democracy.”

“If the search and seizure of leader Jordy’s properties is based on what happened on 8/1 — which the PL repudiated — why are only supporters of the previous government being investigated?”, he said, in a post on social media.

He also stated that the omission of the National Congress in this and other recent cases is “strange and terrible for Brazilian democracy.”

Councilor Carlos Bolsonaro (Republicanos-RJ), son of the former president, also defended the PF target deputy.

“I heard what was said by federal deputy Carlos Jordy (PL-RJ). Following his line of exposition, once again the Constitution is solemnly ignored and another chapter of the astonishing direction towards which Brazil is heading is triggered. My solidarity with you, his wife and little daughter,” he said.

Another Bolsonaro ally, deputy Sóstenes Cavalcante (PL-RJ), who is the 2nd vice-president of the Chamber and one of the main leaders of the evangelical bench, also criticized the measure authorized by Moraes.

Listed as a candidate for Mayor of Rio, federal deputy Alexandre Ramagem (PL-RJ) showed solidarity with his colleague in the Chamber and defended that a reform of the Judiciary be guided in Congress “against this dictatorial system”.

Federal deputy Eduardo Pazuello (PL-RJ), Bolsonaro’s former minister, declared in turn that the operation against Jordy is “serious and unacceptable” as it was a search and seizure in the office of an elected federal deputy.

“This monocratic decision constitutes a true affront to the Legislative Power and weakens the already shaken harmony between the Powers”, he stated.

Another Bolsonarista parliamentarian, Sanderson (PL-RS), said that the operation “Lesa Pátria is the omission of the Brazilian Parliament, which for four years has allowed the endless cowardice and abuses of STF ministers”.

Carlos Jordy was the target of Operation Lesa Pátria, aimed at identifying people who planned, financed and incited the attacks on the headquarters of the three Powers on January 8, 2023.

The action was authorized by Moraes and had a favorable opinion from the PGR (Attorney General’s Office).

Phone calls and messages from an organizer of coup acts in Campos dos Goytacazes (RJ) motivated the magistrate to authorize searches and seizures by the PF at the deputy’s addresses.

According to the PF, based on information obtained in previous phases of the operation, signs of “strong links” were discovered between the deputy councilor of the Campos City Council Carlos Victor de Carvalho, known as CVC, and Jordy.

Carlos Victor organized at least 15 WhatsApp groups with coup-related messages, as well as anti-democratic demonstrations.

According to the PF, there are signs that Jordy guided CVC and “had the power to order anti-democratic movements, whether through social media or stirring up militancy in the region.”

To this end, they cite a message from CVC to the deputy on November 1, 2022, when highway blockages were taking place throughout Brazil following Lula’s (PT) victory in the electoral dispute for the Presidency.

“Good morning, my leader. What direction can you give me? You have the power to stop everything”, CVC said to Jordi.

The deputy replied: “Say brother, okay? Are you able to speak?”

CVC then said: “I can, brother. You can call me whenever you want.”

In total, ten search warrants were executed in Rio de Janeiro (8) and the Federal District (2). The deputy gave a statement this Thursday at the PF headquarters in Rio.

“The facts investigated constitute, in theory, the crimes of violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup d’état, criminal association and incitement to crime”, informed the PF in a note.