Judicial and public prosecutor entities say that the political situation is generating institutional risk.
Organizations expressed concern about the current political situation in the country, which, according to them, generates a "flagrant institutional risk" in Brazil. The document was released after Jair Bolsonaro once again participated in a protest where supporters defended anti-democratic agendas.
Eduardo Simões, Reuters - Entities representing the judiciary and the Public Prosecutor's Office in the country expressed concern in a statement about the current political situation in the country, saying that it generates a "flagrant institutional risk" in Brazil, while also calling for balance and common sense to ensure harmony between the branches of government.
The statement cites "episodes that occurred in recent weeks," without specifying which ones, and asserts that they do not contribute to combating the health and economic crises caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, a respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has already infected more than 500 people and killed nearly 30 in Brazil.
"No attack on institutions and those who represent them will be useful in addressing the real problems of Brazilian society," states the document, which defends the democratic rule of law and respect for the Constitution and its principles.
"Any act that undermines the free exercise of the Powers and the Public Prosecutor's Office, in any of the federative spheres, if not prevented, will therefore be subject to immediate and effective institutional reaction."
The statement is signed by the National Association of Members of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Conamp), the Brazilian Association of Magistrates (AMB), the National Association of Labor Prosecutors (ANPT), the National Association of Labor Court Magistrates (Anamatra), the National Association of Federal Prosecutors (ANPR), the Association of Federal Judges of Brazil (Ajufe), the Association of Magistrates of the Federal District and Territories (Amagis/DF), the National Association of Military Public Prosecutors (ANMPM), and the Association of Public Prosecutors of the Federal District and Territories (AMPDFT).
The document was released after President Jair Bolsonaro once again participated, on Sunday, in a protest where supporters defended anti-democratic agendas. The text was added to a manifesto in defense of democracy signed by more than 1,6 Brazilian personalities from different sectors, including former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB), the governor of Maranhão, Flávio Dino (PCdoB), TV presenter Luciano Huck, and actress Fernanda Montenegro.
Bolsonaro has participated for several consecutive weekends in pro-government demonstrations that advocate for agendas such as the closure of the National Congress and the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and a military intervention in the country. The protests and the president's participation in the events generate crowds and contradict health recommendations to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Last week, Bolsonaro also harshly criticized the Supreme Court after Justice Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the inquiry investigating fake news and threats and offenses against ministers of the court, ordered the Federal Police to execute search and seizure warrants against allies of the president who were allegedly involved in financing the dissemination and propagation of false information.
The day after the operation, Bolsonaro said he would no longer accept measures like that.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Celso de Mello, the most senior member of the court, sent a message to contacts on Sunday in which he said that Bolsonaro supporters want to establish a "despicable and abject military dictatorship" and compared the situation in Brazil, "with due proportions," to what happened in Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, according to a source who had access to the message, obtained by Reuters.