June 4 protests reflect popular indignation against arbitrariness

The prospect of growing legal uncertainty in the country, exemplified by the recent impeachment of Deputy Deltan Dallagnol (Podemos-PR) by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), aroused the reaction of civil society entities, such as the Ranking dos Politicians, which was created 10 years to monitor the behavior of congressmen in voting and legislative projects. Juan Carlos Gonçalves, director general of the NGO Ranking, believes that arbitrariness practiced by the powerful represents a potential threat to all democratically elected representatives, and may even affect the economy.

The decision to support street demonstrations against the escalation of abuses stems from the Ranking’s core convictions, which include the fight against all forms of corruption, opposition to the waste of public resources and the search for improvements in the country. As spokesperson for the Fora Corruptos, Grita, Olho no Congresso Brasil, Vem Pra Rua, Curitiba Contra Corrupção, Mude movements, in addition to the Ranking itself, Gonçalves participated in the call for national protests for June 4th. The call for action was made by Dallagnol, together with other opposition parliamentarians and the aforementioned entities, on May 24, in the Chamber of Deputies.

The political scientist stated at the time that “those involved in corruption occupy positions of power, while those who fought against corruption are being impeached and persecuted”. In this interview to People’s Gazette, he highlights the importance of defending the popular vote and institutionality, and regrets the position contrary to the conciliation of the country exercised by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). Below, check out the interview.

What led a civil society entity dedicated to monitoring the performance of federal parliamentarians, among some criteria, to also take to the streets in protest against abuses by those in power?

Juan Carlos Gonçalves: The Ranking of Politicians appeared a decade ago with the purpose of contributing to the positive transformation of Brazil. Since then, we have maintained our determination to seek a country with fewer privileges, less waste of public resources and, above all, free from corruption, which afflicts us so much. In addition, our organization has always valued the integrity of democratic institutions and has been tireless in protecting the legal principles established in the Federal Constitution.

At a time when we are witnessing attacks on the pillars of democracy and justice, in the midst of a worrying dismantling process, the fear of growing legal uncertainty emerges. Faced with this reality, we cannot remain still and silent. Before the current scenario, in which the impeachment of Deputy Deltan Dallagnol (Podemos-PR) stands out, which motivated us, along with other movements, to call a large, peaceful and organized national demonstration for June 4th. We had already hit the streets. It was in 2016, when we defended the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff (PT), driven by fundamental convictions for us.

What are the implications and risks that the impeachment of Deputy Deltan Dallagnol signals for democracy and for the country’s institutions?

Juan Carlos Gonçalves: The decision of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) to revoke the mandate of the deputy most voted by Paraná in 2022, taken in a surprisingly short time of just one minute and six seconds, reveals something much more serious. It goes beyond mere directions and pursuits, as it directly affects the confidence in predictability and jurisprudence that we all expect from the judicial system. The insecurity resulting from this event can threaten any political group in the future, regardless of whether they are in government or in the opposition, whether they are on the left or on the right. The impeachment of a mandate through casuistry today opens worrying precedents, which invade not only the political and electoral scope, but also other spheres, such as the economic one.

We are running the risk of having our destiny increasingly determined by the will of the true holders of power, without taking into account the value of our vote. This trend endangers not only our political representation, but also our own collective well-being. It is critical that we remain vigilant and uphold the importance of impartiality and fairness to ensure a more stable and just future for all. The protests of June 4th express the popular indignation with aggressions to the citizen’s constitutional rights.

Does the feeling of indignation in relation to corruption, which was so strong in 2013, still persist enough to generate significant changes, or has it been weakened in the face of the defeats of Operation Lava Jato and the reaction of the corrupt in search of revenge?

Juan Carlos Gonçalves: The majority of the Brazilian population is not comfortable with the abuses committed by the powerful and the disconnection of the Powers with popular demands. While acknowledging that the developments after the acts of vandalism in Brasília, on January 8, have contributed to lower expectations of a wave of protests, the flame of popular indignation still burns intensely and cannot be extinguished. Our proposal and action consist of resuming the peaceful and organized protests that marked the country’s history, raising the flags of democracy, freedom and justice. We have no choice but to follow this path to overcome the current situation. We simply need to do what needs to be done.

Opinion polls reveal the population’s dissatisfaction with the government, which continues to lose popularity, and with several critical points of the national reality, without any sign of satisfactory changes in favor of general well-being. The reaction that the people have shown in the last 10 years, in the streets and at the polls, has not yet dissipated. Certainly, the 2024 election year will reflect this climate of widespread dissatisfaction, especially when Congress does not offer the urgent answers that are expected and when issues such as threats of censorship gain ground. If it weren’t for popular pressure, projects such as the regulation of social networks would not have been blocked.

What is your expectation regarding the protests scheduled for June 4th across the country? How is the pace of adherence in this short-term organization?

Juan Carlos Gonçalves: The expectation for the protests on June 4th is quite positive. Since the call made by the Ranking of Politicians, together with other movements and deputy Deltan Dallagnol, on Wednesday (24), we have received extremely favorable returns. Our social networks had a significant increase in followers and engagement right after the announcement. Participation is strong and tends to grow, with other movements joining our purpose and aligning themselves with our actions. We are even being contacted by entities that we did not know before, interested in joining us.

At the moment, we are in the process of filing authorization requests with the competent authorities to carry out demonstrations in all 27 capitals of Brazil. It is important to emphasize, once again, that these protests will be peaceful and organized. We are putting together schedules with times and places of concentration, including specific reference points. In addition, we are seeing a spontaneous adhesion in other cities of the country, which joined the efforts of the movements involved in the general organization. We believe that the protests on June 4th will be marked by an expressive and determined participation of the population, reinforcing the commitment with the search for a more just and corruption-free society.

Does political polarization create challenges for issues of ethics in politics and the fight against corruption to regain prominence on the streets and at the polls?

Juan Carlos Gonçalves: It is undeniable that Brazil emerged deeply divided from the last presidential elections, with practically two halves of the electorate aligned in opposing camps. This division has reverberated and intensified the climate of animosity in the country, but we cannot remain silent when witnessing a series of atrocities and setbacks in various agendas, especially with regard to the fundamental rights of citizens established in the Constitution. It is also a reality that this national division will not be overcome before the next presidential elections in 2026. This is because the current President of the Republic does nothing to overcome this profound rupture. On the contrary, his posture reveals a ruler who does not represent all Brazilians, as one would expect from someone invested with this noble responsibility. He continues to address his speeches only to his supporters and harass his opponents.

Unfortunately, in recent times, we have not witnessed a conciliatory stance on the part of the government, which makes us feel the need to express our indignation in the streets through protests. Political polarization may eventually make it difficult for the ethical agenda to return to protagonism and the fight against corruption, but we cannot allow these issues to be forgotten or neglected. It is essential that we continue to defend these principles and seek a more ethical, fair and corruption-free society, even amid the challenges of the political scenario.

How do you evaluate MBL’s decision to no longer participate in the events scheduled for June 4th?

Juan Carlos Gonçalves: We regret the news, but understand the reasons and context behind this decision. The country’s current social and political situation has fostered criticism among different groups and the accentuation of divergences. Despite this, we believe that, even physically absent from the protests scheduled for Sunday, the MBL will continue to support the causes that motivated these street demonstrations. It is undeniable that the movement represents one of the voices that denounce everything we are rejecting.