Lira defends punishment of coup plotters and says that no regime thrives outside democracy – 02/01/2023 – Politics

In a tough speech shortly after being reappointed to the command of the Chamber, President Arthur Lira (PP-AL) defended the application of the rigor of the law against coup plotters who vandalized buildings of Congress, the Planalto Palace and the STF (Federal Supreme Court) on 8 of January. He also preached containment of powers and said it was “time to cool down”.

“In this Brazil there is no more space for those who attack the Powers that symbolize our democracy. This House will not accept, defend or endorse any act, speech, demonstration that violates democracy. Anyone who acts in this way will be repulsed by this Parliament, the rejection of the people Brazilian and the rigors of the law”, he said.

For those who plundered, vandalized and shamed the Brazilian people, there will indeed be the rigor of the law.”

Lira was re-elected with 464 votes, a historic record and a major advance over the 302 votes he obtained in 2021, when he was first led into office.

In the speech, Lira criticized what he called “the uproar of some”. “To the vandals and instrumentalists of chaos that promoted the 8th of January, I affirm: in Brazil, no political regime will prosper outside of democracy. There will never be a Brazil without free elections and representatives chosen by popular vote. There will never be a Brazil without freedom .”

Lira obtained a wide range of support, from the PL of Jair Bolsonaro to the PT of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who did not launch a competing candidacy for fear of defeat, since the left controls only about a quarter of the seats in the House.

Since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) was elected, Lira has been approaching the PT, in a significant change in relation to the posture of alignment with former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) that the deputy had before.

The mayor was one of the first authorities to recognize Lula’s victory over Bolsonaro in the second round.