President Jair Bolsonaro told reporters to shut up this Tuesday morning (5) when they asked about the recent changes in the Federal Police. Bolsonaro also attacked Folha, calling the newspaper "scoundrel," "rascal," and "liar.”
Bolsonaro made his statement Tuesday morning in front of the Palácio da Alvorada when he showed an image that reproduced the headline of the print edition of Folha this Tuesday. He said, referring to the headline "New Federal Police director assumes and accepts Bolsonaro's request", said that he did not interfere with the corporation.
"Folha de S.Paulo is a scam. "Scoundrel" is a compliment for Folha de S.Paulo. The current superintendent of Rio de Janeiro, whom [ex-minister Sergio] Moro said I want to replace for family issues."
"There is no family member of mine being investigated by the Federal Police, neither I nor my children, zero. It's a lie that the press promotes all the time, saying that my children want to change the superintendent [of the PF in Rio]", added the president.
Appointed a day earlier, the new director-general of the Federal Police, Rolando Souza, decided to change the head of the Federal Police Superintendence in Rio de Janeiro, the focus of interest for Jair Bolsonaro's family.
During Bolsonaro's talk, journalists asked Bolsonaro if he had asked for the Federal Police change in Rio. That was when he told the professionals to shut up.
"Shut up, I didn't ask anything," he answered. "Folha de S.Paulo, a scoundrel and liar newspaper." Then questioned by Folha, the president shouted again: "shut up, shut up".
Folha replied in an editorial: "Once again, President Jair Bolsonaro disrespects freedom of expression and insults professional journalism. We will continue to be proud and vigilant, covering the actions of this administration with impartiality and independence, as we have done in all governments. And, no, Folha will not shut up."
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon