"Criticism of Barbosa is not racial. It's political."
Federal Deputy Edson Santos (PT-RJ), who was Minister of Racial Equality in Lula's government, sees the president of the Supreme Federal Court, Minister Joaquim Barbosa, as an antithesis to the PT governments in the country; for him, Barbosa acts not as a judge, but as a candidate who will face his "tough and firm opposition"; the PT member disregards any kind of "racial bullying" against Barbosa, as stated by journalist Ana Alakija; "He goes against everything that Brazil has advanced in the fight against racial injustice," the deputy, who was responsible for the Statute of Racial Equality, which was opposed by Globo, which unconditionally supports Barbosa, tells 247; "the media has captured Barbosa for its own project."
Valter Lima, from Brasil 247 – Former Minister of Racial Equality, federal deputy Edson Santos (PT-RJ) does not see any kind of "racial bullying" in the criticisms made against the president of the Supreme Federal Court, Minister Joaquim Barbosa, as he stated. journalist Ana Alakija, editor of the Afro-Latin and Euro-American Information Agency. Speaking to 247, Edson Santos said that the issue against Barbosa "is not racial, but rather political." "What Mr. Joaquim Barbosa is doing now is a political game," he stated.
According to the Workers' Party member, Barbosa is "a piece in the scheme of the PSDB party, an attempt to bring the neoliberal project back to power."So much so that FHC has already indicated that he may be a candidate for the Senate or even for vice-president.", he emphasizes.
Edson Santos sees Barbosa as the biggest counterpoint to the PT (Workers' Party). "He has a stance that I oppose, which is not recognizing the progress that Brazil made during the PT governments, which allowed for the creation of the current environment of quality of life and affirmative action for the entry of young black and poor people into universities, for example. In addition to measures to include black people in environments dominated by white people. And he was part of this, which was President Lula's initiative to place a black man on the Supreme Court, to represent a new moment for the country," he states.
Another issue raised by the congressman is the way the president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) conducted the trial of Criminal Action 470 and the imprisonment of those convicted. "JB's stance clearly opposes the PT's project. The way he conducted AP 470 with the clear objective of convicting, even introducing novelties in Legal Theory, establishing that it is the defendants who have to prove their innocence, and not the prosecution, their guilt. Frankly, Joaquim Barbosa goes against everything that Brazil has advanced in social terms and in the fight against racism in recent years when it was governed by the PT and its allied parties," he states.
By calling Barbosa the "main tormentor of AP 470," the Workers' Party member cites the situation of former congressman Roberto Jefferson, also convicted in the case but still at large, and receiving different treatment than that given to former congressman José Genoino.
"Look at the case of Roberto Jefferson. Just because he initiated this process doesn't mean I'm going to disregard the fact that he needs special treatment regarding his health condition, but this right must also be guaranteed to José Genoino, who has a serious heart condition. But Barbosa insisted on keeping him imprisoned. Not in a semi-open regime, but in a closed one, as he illegally did with Dirceu," he emphasizes.
Edson Santos, the minister responsible for creating the Statute of Racial Equality, recalls that the opposition was against the project, as was Globo (a Brazilian media conglomerate). "This only reveals the true positions of each of us. The media ended up capturing Joaquim Barbosa for its own project. As the main opposition party, the media sees that Barbosa serves its agenda. And Barbosa assumes this air of celebrity that has nothing to do with the function of president of the Supreme Federal Court," he criticizes.
When questioned about the possibility of Barbosa actually running for office, the congressman believes that this is a personal decision for the president of the Supreme Federal Court. "I think he's already behaving like a candidate. He's already signaling that it's a political option. He has every right to do so, but he will face my strongest and firmest opposition," he emphasized.