Eduardo Bolsonaro exposes split in the PL party regarding amnesty.
Even within Jair Bolsonaro's own party, there is no consensus on a "broad and unrestricted" amnesty for the coup plotters.
247 - Brazilian congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) has once again stirred tensions within the PL party regarding the proposed amnesty for those convicted for the acts of January 8, 2023. In a social media post, the congressman reacted to a report by... CNN Brazil which revealed that a faction within the PL party is advocating for the exclusion of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) from the measure.
The move comes after the president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), signaled the drafting of a text that would not include Bolsonaro. The idea would be to unblock the proposal amidst the trial of the first group involved in the attempted coup, convincing Bolsonaro to relinquish the benefit to alleviate the situation of the other convicts.
Eduardo Bolsonaro raises the tone.
In the post, Eduardo Bolsonaro did not hold back his criticism and accused political sectors of trying to manipulate the amnesty agenda to pressure his father.
“Let me speak plainly so you understand perfectly. I know you want to remove my father from the amnesty so you can blackmail him and force him to choose the candidate you want to install. Any amnesty that is not broad and unrestricted will not be accepted,” she wrote.
The congressman also stated that he will bring the issue to the PL's parliamentary base and warned of possible international consequences: “The amnesty will be broad and unrestricted, or it will not have the support of the right wing and will not have the effect of reducing international sanctions. These shady little plans of yours will not prosper. You are playing with something serious and will end up being seen as collaborators with human rights violators,” he concluded.
Discrepancies within the PL
Although Jair Bolsonaro had previously indicated that he did not need to be included in the amnesty program, Eduardo Bolsonaro's actions abroad reinforce the opposing pressure. In a letter to the United States government, the congressman presented the amnesty as essential to pacify the country and suspend international sanctions.
For members of the PL party, convincing Jair Bolsonaro might be feasible, but reversing the international strategy led by Eduardo would be more difficult. Investigations have already identified conversations between father and son on the subject.
Behind-the-scenes maneuvering
Meanwhile, negotiations are progressing within the Centrão bloc, in nightly meetings attended by Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos). The federal government is closely monitoring the developments, while some within the PL insist that the proposal needs to be approved by Congress, even without including Jair Bolsonaro.
The impasse exposes the rift within the party and highlights the difficulty in building consensus on one of the most delicate and controversial issues in the current political landscape.
