Villaça: FHC made an international fool of himself on Al Jazeera.
"Accustomed to interviews with Brazilian journalists, who simply set him up for rehearsed counter-attacks, FHC had his positions challenged by an Al Jazeera anchor and, as a result, suffered an international embarrassment," says writer Pablo Villaça; "In the space of just ten minutes, the former president repeatedly stumbles, even contradicting the narrative that his coup-plotting accomplices have been insisting on when talking about 'impeachment'."
By Pablo Villaça, in your Facebook
There is no journalism in the mainstream Brazilian media. In newsrooms, we have columnists who, for the most part, confuse "analysis" with "sucking up to their bosses"; on major portals, stories are highlighted or hidden according to corporate interests instead of journalistic criteria; on TV, the anchors are nothing more than teleprompter readers who take good photos and only want to guarantee their millionaire salaries paid by the five families that dominate all the media outlets in the country.
That's why O Globo reports that "Dilma has a 62% disapproval rating," but when it comes to Temer, the Little One, the headline becomes "Temer has a 13% approval rating among Brazilians." That's why no accusation involving members of the PSDB party gets more attention for more than a few minutes—and if it does, it's diluted by the language: Alckmin becomes "governor" (without a name or party), Aécio gets mixed up with "senators," and so on—while, remember, UOL once even talked about a crime committed "by a doctor who treated Lula in the past."
Which brings us to the interviews, which, when conducted with members of the PSDB party, are nothing more than recitations of pre-approved questions – and when someone steps out of their comfort zone, as Marcia Peltier did with José Serra a few years ago, the result is an adolescent tantrum (I'll link it at the end of the post).
That's exactly what happened now with former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Accustomed to interviews with Brazilian journalists, who simply set him up for rehearsed counter-attacks, FHC had his positions challenged by an Al Jazeera anchor and, as a result, suffered an international embarrassment similar to the one he had a few years ago on a BBC program (I'll also link it at the end of the post).
In the space of just ten minutes, the former president repeatedly stumbles, even contradicting the narrative that his coup-plotting accomplices have been insisting on when talking about "impeachment."
Moreover, FHC opens the interview by admitting that Dilma did NOT commit a crime "in the penal sense." And he added, "she committed a POLITICAL crime." Which is quite interesting, since there is nothing in the Constitution that defines "political crime" or impeachment as a punishment.
Then the interviewer points out that FHC was spending 300 million PER YEAR on fiscal irresponsibility, prompting the following unbelievable response: “In my case, it was different. We were adjusting.”
Next, the anchor points out how Cunha, Temer, and other accomplices are accused of corruption and asks if FHC doesn't see the irony in them leading the "impeachment." The former president begins to stammer, murmurs something about "it was the 'people' who led" and says that perhaps Temer/Cunha are opportunists. It is then that the interviewer interrupts him and says: "Okay, so you accept opportunism" and changes the subject.
TOIM.
What comes next is the best bait. "You said the impeachment was because of the people. 58% of the people want Temer out. So you support Temer's impeachment?"
FHC starts to stutter and tries to lie about the poll. The interviewer cuts him off and corrects him. The following dialogue takes place:
FHC: "I am not familiar with this research."
"I'm informing you now."
"You need more information."
"The LORD was unaware of the research!"
But the best moment: the journalist points out that Lava Jato revealed corruption at Petrobras during the FHC government, and the latter goes crazy:
"No, no, no. I protest!" And he says it was a "political" denunciation.
And he throws a tantrum you wouldn't believe. You have to see it to believe it.
Next, the interviewer talks about the recording of Jucá saying that they need to remove Dilma and put Temer in place to stop the bleeding of Lava Jato. FHC first tries to change the subject; the interviewer insists. The politician then says (I swear): "What was the result (of the conversation)? Zero."
“ZERO”?! The result was EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE DISCUSSING IN THE RECORDING!
Finally, the interviewer mentions the investigation into the allegation that FHC used Brasif to pay his former lover in France monthly.
FHC: "That's a lie."
"So why is there an investigation?"
"Because the PMDB politically pressured the Ministry of Justice!"
In other words: FHC's brain stops working under pressure.
What a DISASTROUS interview. In short: he admitted there is no criminal basis for impeachment; that the issue is purely political; …that all the accusations against Dilma are true, but those against him are politically motivated, and he even stammered, threw a tantrum, and couldn't answer.
But see for yourselves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d8yEi3iDA8
The BBC interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j12QIWbVT-k
Serra's tantrum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-pn-45FcwQ
The interview with Al Jazeera: