Bolsonaro Defends Dictatorship and Tells Supreme Court Justices to Shut Up

President adopts electoral tone in ceremony of exchange in charge of ministries

In an electoral tone at a ceremony at the Planalto Palace, President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) once again attacked Supreme Court Justices this Thursday (31). Without naming them by name, he ordered them to shut up and put on their toga. Bolsonaro also defended the military dictatorship, which turns 58 this Thursday, and federal deputy Daniel Silveira (PTB-RJ), who was in the audience. "And we here have everything to be a great nation. We have everything, what's missing? That a few don't get in our way. If you don't have ideas, shut up. Put on your toga and stay there. Don't come and bother others," he said, referring to Supreme Court Justices, who wear toga.

BRASILIA, DF, BRASIL, 31-03-2022: President Jair Bolsonaro (Foto: Pedro Ladeira/Folhapress, PODER) - Folhapress

A day earlier, Bolsonaro had already made threats to the judiciary. In Rio Grande do Norte, he said that the votes in the elections will be counted, without explaining how, since the printed vote was overturned by Congress amid coup speeches by the President of the Republic.

This Thursday, in another part of the speech, Bolsonaro spoke of "enemies that inhabit the region [of the square] of the Three Powers," without directly citing anyone. Since the beginning of his term, the president has systematically attacked the Judiciary, especially the Supreme.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

Read the article in the original language