The tense atmosphere among the Powers after the Legislative and Judiciary reaction to the coup statements of President Jair Bolsonaro (no party) has not cooled. Until at least this Sunday night (11), there has been no intention of those involved in lowering the tone.
Envoys from Bolsonaro's administration informed the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (DEM-MG), that Bolsonaro was irritated with the senator's statements.
On Friday (9), Pacheco said that he will not accept setbacks to democracy and that anyone acting in that direction will be considered an enemy of the nation. Luís Roberto Barroso, Supreme Court justice and President of the Superior Electoral Court, stated that any attempt to prevent the holding of elections in 2022 "constitutes a crime of responsibility."
On Saturday (10), Congressional leader Arthur Lira (PP-AL), avoided criticizing his ally, Bolsonaro, and stated that "our institutions are strongholds that public statements and opportunism will not shake." Then, in an interview with CNN Brasil, he stated that he had no commitment to anti-democratic intent and criticized political demonstrations by military commanders.
The positions come after statements by Bolsonaro, who said that elections may not take place if there is no reliable voting system — which, according to him, is the paper ballot.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon