President Jair Bolsonaro criticized Congress' interest in controlling about R$ 15 billion (US$ 3.4 billion) in the 2020 budget and dared the president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (DEM-AP), and the Congress, Rodrigo Maia (DEM-RJ), to go to Sunday's protests.
In an interview with CNN Brasil on Sunday (15), Bolsonaro also called "extremism" and "hysteria" measures taken in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, which in Brazil had already infected 200 people until the early evening.
Congresspeople severely criticized Bolsonaro for promoting and supporting demonstrations in favor of his government and against Congress and the STF (Supreme Federal Court).
The presidents of the Chamber and the Senate released statements early on Saturday evening condemning the behavior of the President of the Republic. Bolsonaro gave his interview after the two parliamentarians had protested.
"I would like them to take to the streets like me. The answer is this. We, politicians, have a responsibility, and we must be almost slaves to the popular will. Take to the streets, these two parliamentarians. I respect both; I have no problem with them. They are making their criticisms; I am calm about this. I hope that they do not want to leave for something belligerent after these words of mine here ", Bolsonaro said.
"Now, dear Davi Alcolumbre, dear Rodrigo Maia, do you want to go out into the streets? Go out into the streets and see how you are received," continued the President of the Republic.
Bolsonaro said he did not initiate Sunday's protests. It was a spontaneous movement of the population "tired of the disrespect, tired of seeing certain things that are not good for the public, for example, sharing R $ 15 billion, where, the Budget, everyone knows, the President of the Republic has to execute it. "
He was referring to half of the R $ 30 billion under the control of the 2020 Budget rapporteur, Deputy Domingos Neto (PSD-CE). The government agreed with Congress, and Bolsonaro sent three projects that regulate the imposition budget and divide these resources between Executive and Legislative, leaving about R$ 15 billion for each one.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon