Jurists, politicians and entities react to Bolsonaro’s new participation in an undemocratic act | Politics

The protesters gathered in front of the Planalto Palace to demand the closure of Congress and the Supreme Federal Court, in addition to defending a “military intervention with Bolsonaro” and criticizing former Minister of Justice Sergio Moro. Without a mask, Bolsonaro greeted the group and helped spread a flag on the Planalto ramp.

Bolsonaro declared, in a speech broadcast on social media, that he has “the armed forces on the side of the people” and that “he will not accept any more interference.” He also said that he asks “God we have no problems this week, because we have reached the limit.”

The president did not explain what he plans to do to avoid such interference or what the “limit” would be.

While Bolsonaro was talking to the protesters, part of the group harassed journalists and photographers who accompanied the act. The military police had to assemble a makeshift cord to prevent the assault.

Read the reactions to the act below:

• Rodrigo Maia (DEM-RJ), President of the Chamber of Deputies

“Yesterday the nurses were threatened. Today the journalists were attacked. Tomorrow anyone who opposes their worldview. It is up to the democratic institutions to impose a legal order on this group that confuses politics with poignant terror.”

My solidarity with the journalists and health professionals attacked. May justice be swift to punish these criminals.

In Brazil, unfortunately, we fight against the coronavirus and the virus of extremism, whose worst effect is to ignore science and deny reality. The road will be more difficult, but democracy and the Brazilians who want peace will win. ”

• Carmen Lúcia, Minister of the Federal Supreme Court

“I regret the initial information, which was brought here, that there was an assault on journalists on such a significant day for the press as it is today. It is unacceptable, it is inexplicable that we still have citizens who did not understand that the role of a professional of the press It is the role that guarantees that each one of us can be free.

Therefore, when we speak of freedom of expression and of the press, specifically, in the field of freedoms, without which there is no respect for dignities. There is no dignity in the absence of freedom, and there is no way to exercise freedom without being informed about what is happening around us, what worries us, what concerns others.

And this is a role that the press plays in a superior way. He does what I said, since it is his duty, but he guarantees the right of each one of us. Hence the importance of speaking today about press freedom.

Journalists are constantly beaten, murdered, mutilated in their functions, precisely because, by providing the precise information that is necessary for the information of each citizen, for the responsibility of the citizenry, so that each one of us can have access, in that way. information, your rights and your duties.

These professionals, to end this requirement of their profession, are inexplicably assaulted. Sometimes attacked by state agencies, who want silence. And he only wants silence, who does not want democracy. Because those who like dictatorship like silence, but democracy is plural, it is noisy, it brings the noises that plurality creates. ”

• Gilmar Mendes, Minister of the Federal Supreme Court

The aggression against each journalist is the aggression against freedom of expression and the aggression against democracy itself. This must be very clear and must be clearly condemned.

• João Doria (PSDB), Governor of São Paulo

Ideological militiamen cowardly attack health professionals in one day. They attack press professionals on the other. They are criminals who attack democracy and undermine the rule of law. Justice needs to punish these criminals.

• Camilo Santana (PT), Governor of Ceará

Agglomerations stimulated by the President in the midst of a very serious pandemic. Journalists attacked on Press Freedom Day. Brazil lives in dark times. But this is the time when we most need to be strong, defend life and fight for our democracy.

• Felipe Santa Cruz, President of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB)

“The limits that exist are those of the Constitution, and are valid for everyone, including and especially for the president. The only patience that has come to an end, legitimately and correctly, is the patience of society with a ruler who neglects his obligations, incites chaos and disorder, in the midst of a health and economic crisis. ”

• Fabiano Contarato (Rede-ES), senator

“The Armed Forces, as a state institution committed to the Constitution, must make a gesture that makes it clear that they do not agree with the authoritarian bravado of the temporary occupant of the plateau.”

• Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP), senator

“Bolsonaro’s criminal prowess knows no bounds! He returns to encourage and promote crowds. He continues to attack institutions and public health at a time when covid-19 deaths are breaking records in the country. We will bring justice against this genocidal escalation.! ”

• Carlos Sampaio (PSDB-SP), leader of the PSDB in the Chamber

“The day that Brazil must overcome the 100,000 cases of Covid-19 and 7,000 dead, it is regrettable and disappointing that President Jair Bolsonaro shows once again his support for a movement that goes against the guidelines of the authorities In addition, those who really defend democracy do not participate in or accept demonstrations where the press is attacked and who attack Congress and the Federal Supreme Court, which are its pillars.These institutions are doing what the Constitution determines and what the country awaits: Congress is determined to adopt important measures to combat the pandemic and mitigate its effects on the economy, while the STF fulfills its function of guaranteeing the legality of actions The responsibility of the Powers to carry out their tasks is the best an answer that must be given at this time when most Brazilians mourn for their dead and worry about tomorrow. ”

• Deputy Marcelo Freixo (PSOL-RJ), deputy

“What is happening this Sunday is very serious, once again President Bolsonaro acts irresponsibly. It stimulates a public act, generating crowds, in which the agenda of this act is the closing of Congress, the closing of the Supreme Court, a anti-democracy agenda, something the Constitution does not allow.

The president encourages, participates, acts and exudes hatred against his opponents, speaks ill of the governors, preaches against isolation on the same Sunday when we will reach almost 7,000 Brazilians dead, almost 100,000 infected.

Bolsonaro cannot speak in harmony, cannot ask for a joint work. Feed hatred, feed crowds, act against all guidelines of health professionals and against all guidelines of the presidents of other countries.

It is the height of irresponsibility, without a doubt, reached the maximum limit of what a President of the Republic cannot do. ”

• José Guimarães (PT-CE), minority leader in the Chamber

“Brazil has a government that uses violence as a method to prohibit press freedom, one of the fundamental pillars of the democratic rule of law. Our solidarity with the professionals of ‘Estadão’, ‘Folha’ and O Globo.”

• National Federation of Journalists (Fenaj)

“Today we publish a news manifesto on World Press Freedom Day. There we cite the survey of the attacks of the year and the cases that occurred on 1 and 2.

Our position is to condemn each and every attack against journalists. Today two photo reporters were attacked in Brasilia. We repudiate them all and ask for the support of society for journalism and journalists. ”

• Brazilian Press Association (ABI)

“Today, May 3, World Press Freedom Day, ironically, once again journalists and press professionals in Brazil suffered verbal and physical aggression by the followers of President Jair Bolsonaro. In Brasilia, protesters attacked with kicks, blows and professional morons from the newspaper ‘O Estado de São Paulo’.

Photographer Dida Sampaio recorded images of the president in front of the Planalto Palace ramp, on a small staircase in the restricted area for the press, when he was pushed by the protesters, who kicked and beat him. The newspaper’s host, Marcos Pereira, made a trip. The professionals left the site escorted by the Prime Minister. The journalists were insulted.

These violent acts are more serious because there is no condemnation from the president or government officials. On the contrary, it is the president himself and his ministers who incite attacks against the press and its professionals.

The Brazilian Press Association (ABI) stands in solidarity with those attacked and once again protests and draws the attention of Brazilian society to the dangerous escalation of aggression and violence by the followers of President Bolsonaro, not only in relation to professionals of the press as Authorities of the Republic and opponents “.

• National Association of Newspapers (ANJ)

“The National Association of Newspapers (ANJ) strongly condemns the assaults suffered by journalists and the conductor of the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo when they covered the acts carried out this Sunday (3) in Brasilia.

In addition to attacking those who practiced their professional activities in a cowardly manner, the attackers directly attacked their own press freedom. Attempting against the free exercise of journalistic activity is also damaging the right of citizens to be freely informed.