President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said this Wednesday (27) that he does not need a "letter" to say he defends democracy. Without mentioning the civil society manifesto, the declaration comes in response to it, named defense of the Democratic State of Law.
"We live in a democratic country, we defend democracy, we don't need any letter to say that we defend democracy," said the president in a speech at the PP's national convention, which officially supported his campaign. "[To] say that we want to comply with and respect the Constitution, then we don't need support or signaling from anyone to show that our path is democracy, freedom, respect for the Constitution," he added.
As Folha showed, the "Letter to Brazilians and Brazilians in Defense of the Democratic Rule of Law" has already garnered 100,000 signatures in less than 24 hours after being opened to the public. The document, which began with the signature of 3,000 people, including bankers, businessmen, jurists, actors and several other personalities, will be launched at an event at the USP Law School, in São Paulo, on August 11th. The text defends the higher courts, elections and democracy against attacks and coup claims by Bolsonaro.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon