今昔之感网President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated this Thursday (Sep. 4) that if the amnesty bill16bet.comvoted on in Congress, there is a “risk” it could be approved. In a meeting with communicators and influencers from peripheral networks, Lula said that mobilization against the bill’s approval must also come from the people.
“If it’s voted on in Congress, we run the risk of amnesty. Because Congress, as you know, is not a Congress elected by the peripheral communities,” he said during a visit to the Aglomerado da Serra community in Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais.
According to Lula, the far-right still holds considerable sway in the National Congress.
“Congress has supported the government - we’ve managed to pass almost everything we proposed. But the far-right still holds considerable sway. That’s why this is a battle that must also be fought by the people. So, here’s what I ask of you: make that commitment. Just as I’ve said before - Brazil has only one true owner: the Brazilian people. And the communities have the best representatives: you,” Lula told his supporters.
The amnesty bill, championed by the opposition and led by former President Jair Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party, would grant clemency to those convicted for the January 8, 2023, coup attempt - including individuals who financed, encouraged, or organized it. If approved, the law could benefit Bolsonaro himself, who is a defendant in the Supreme Court for an attempted coup d’état, as he is considered one of the main masterminds behind the plot.
However, the Supreme Court has already ruled that amnesty for crimes against the democratic order is unconstitutional. This precedent was set in its decision to overturn the pardon granted to former congressman Daniel Silveira by then-President Jair Bolsonaro. Silveira was convicted in April 2022 for attempting to impede the free exercise of constitutional powers and for coercing judicial authorities during legal proceedings. In 2020 and 2021, he used social media to incite the invasion of the Court and to suggest physical assaults on Supreme Court justices.
Politicization
President Lula said Brazil is going through a “moment of incomprehension,” and that it is essential to politically engage the communities.
“People need political awareness. They need guidance on what is right and what is wrong. We must combat fake news - there’s no reason for lies to be valued more than the truth,” he told influencers on Thursday.
Citing several ongoing shortcomings in the country, Lula asked the group for help in promoting public policies.
“So, I’m asking for your help to make a change. It’s okay to complain, to question, to criticize ministers, to criticize the president of Brazil. But we need to make things work - otherwise, democracy has no meaning for the people. For the people, democracy means being able to eat, study, have housing, access to culture, leisure, and the freedom to do what they want,” he added.
After the meeting, at the community event, Lula launched the People’s Gas program, which will provide free cooking gas to low-income families.
