Opposition announces pro-Bolsonaro offensive focusing on Moraes' impeachment

The opposition announced this Monday (21) an offensive in favor of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in Congress and against what they classified as the "dictatorship of the robe" of the Supreme Federal Court (STF). The leader of the PL in the Chamber, Sóstenes Cavalcante (RJ), stated that the order of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, prohibiting the broadcasting of interviews with the former president on social media, is "censorship" with the objective of isolating Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro was supposed to participate in the press conference organized by allied lawmakers this afternoon, but he backed out after Moraes's new decision. Sóstenes reported that the former president was on the Chamber's premises.

"President Bolsonaro is in the Chamber of Deputies, participated in the entire meeting with us, and would very much like to speak to the entire national press. However, due to yet another censorship order from Minister Alexandre de Moraes, his lawyers have preventively recommended that he no longer speak to the press," said the party leader.

"This is Brazil and the relative democracy we're experiencing," he added. According to Sóstenes, the Lula administration (Workers' Party) decided to bring forward the 2026 elections instead of negotiating a solution to the 50% tariffs on Brazilian products imposed by Trump.

According to the deputy, Eduardo cannot participate in the video conference meeting, because, last Friday (18), Moraes prohibited Bolsonaro from maintaining contact with his son. The minister ordered a series of precautionary measures for the former president, such as the use of an electronic ankle bracelet, night curfew and a ban on using social media.

"Put yourself in the shoes of a father who can't speak to his son. This doesn't exist in the Inquisition, nor do drug traffickers or rapists in Brazil have their right to speak to their children curtailed," Sóstenes emphasized.

Lawmakers announced that the priority upon their return from recess is approving amnesty for those involved in the January 8, 2023, acts of violence, which could benefit Bolsonaro. Sóstenes stated that the second item on the opposition's agenda will be a vote on proposed constitutional amendment (PEC) 333/2017, which would eliminate the special jurisdiction based on prerogative of office in cases of common crimes.

"We have more than 60 members of parliament facing charges in the Supreme Federal Court, in addition to the bizarre, never-ending doomsday investigations, all of which are centralized in the hands of Alexandre de Moraes. This has to end; it's undemocratic and unconstitutional," he emphasized.

Moraes' impeachment will be a priority issue in the Senate

Senator Damares Alves (Republicans-DF) announced that the opposition's main proposal in the Senate will be the impeachment of Minister Alexandre de Moraes. "If there is a monster named Alexandre de Moraes today, the Senate is to blame," said Senator Magno Malta (PL-ES).

"It's his fault we're being charged. All of his decisions, as proven, violated human rights [...] The Senate understands that Minister Alexandre's decisions have caused perplexity around the world," said the senator.

During the press conference, Malta even said that "we've reached the limit" and challenged Moraes. "It's do or die, because if I said do or die, everything would be distorted. It's do or die. We'll use every mechanism. And my word to this tyrant in the robe, Alexandre de Moraes, is: Put your hand on Jair Bolsonaro. Put your hand on him. Try your luck, because you've already had bad luck."

Opposition creates strategy for Bolsonaro's communication amid "censorship"

The PL leader announced the creation of three opposition working subcommittees to align the group's communications, coordinate the voting of priority agendas in Congress, and "give voice" to Bolsonaro.

"We will give President Bolsonaro a voice. All of this, the decisions to censor the president, is based on the assumption that he will be isolated and voiceless. From now on, we will have a communications strategy and we will give President Bolsonaro a voice, because he not only has an army of parliamentarians but also millions of people in the streets who will give him the voice that the Supreme Court decided to censor," said Sóstenes.

The subcommittees will be led by the following deputies: