Because he cannot accept criticism, Augusto loses control and exaggerates.

Valter Lima, from Sergipe 247 – The reversal by state representative Augusto Bezerra (DEM) regarding the nomination of his sister, Ada Celestino Bezerra, for the State Secretariat of Political Articulation and Institutional Relations, generated even greater repercussions than the announcement made last week that he, vice-leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly, would now vote according to the Government's guidelines. In light of this, many comments and criticisms were made of the parliamentarian, who failed to handle the situation well and lost the composure expected of public figures.

Through his Twitter account, Augusto verbally attacked the daughter of Mayor João Alves Filho (DEM), Ana Alves, and journalist Gleice Queiroz. He also showed his displeasure with a comment made by Vice-Mayor José Carlos Machado (PSDB) and a report by TV Atalaia. This is not the first time the congressman has gone too far using the microblog. In 2011, he verbally attacked journalist Cláudio Nunes because of a criticism.

On the morning of this Wednesday (24), after learning of what Machado (in the Periscópio column, in the Jornal da Cidade) and Ana Alves (on the social network Facebook) said, the deputy unleashed his verbiage in the few characters that tweets allow. “I think Machado joked about a serious matter. I don’t need positions to vote in the Assembly. And my decision was made together with João Alves,” he replied, still in a mild tone, to the vice-mayor’s comment, who said that the acting governor Jackson Barreto (PMDB) “was wrong” for not having sworn in the deputy’s sister, Ada Augusta, as secretary, in the morning, as this would not have given Augusto time to remove her from the “game”.

Regarding the daughter of the mayor of Aracaju, Augusto was more incisive and rude: “Out of respect for my friend and leader João Alves, I will not respond to the insults Ana Alves makes against me on Facebook for several reasons. She represents nothing. Besides, I am not a psychiatrist to treat abnormal cases and anomalies. I do politics with ethics and dialogue. My conversations are with João Alves. I have been supporting the DEM for 12 years, eight of them in the opposition. Facebook is not a latrine to write so much nonsense. Perhaps it's a lack of something better to do.”

And what did Ana Alves publish? According to the Jornal da Cidade, it was the following words: “I just got home and found the newspaper with this headline on the front page: “Augusto Independent”. I rushed to the calendar to check if today is September 7th, the date that commemorates Brazil's independence, and discovered that it isn't; we're still in July. Augusto considers himself “independent” from what or whom? I don't know, but it's clear that he uses his status to make deals.”

She further questioned whether the congressman would leave the DEM party, since "Jackson isn't stupid and should demand that of him, nothing could be fairer." "Did Augusto also break with the Amorim brothers, who gave him political support and political dependence? Yes, because they always were – until yesterday – linked, Siamese twins," she stated. Ana Alves also ironically remarked that she even "got emotional about the trio Augusto X Amorim X André Moura, even causing problems within the DEM," which, according to her, "was always too democratic with some and not with others." "Knowing this, Augusto always benefited from the party and always works thinking of it in a way that is contrary to it in other municipalities, allying himself with adversaries to bring down other Democrats, and nothing ever happens," she criticized.

In response to TV Atalaia, Augusto questioned the station's Journalism department: "The journalistic direction of TV Atalaia spoke yesterday about passion fruit candy. This proves that someone in the station's management knows about the candy" (Sergipe 247 was unable to retrieve the comment made by the TV station in order to establish a counterpoint).

But Augusto's most offensive statements were directed against journalist Gleice Queiroz, who was also aggressive towards the legislator. However, it's obvious that he, as a state deputy and legitimate representative of the people of Sergipe, by virtue of the votes that placed him in the Assembly, could not resort to such vulgarity. The legislator made personal attacks with a prejudiced bias, contradicting himself, since at the beginning of the discussion he stated that he would not lose his composure.

“Friends tell me you think you're ugly and fat and that you want attention. I don't know you and I don't want to. And I only pay attention to those who have credibility. It was the Twitter users who said you're ugly and fat. Since they say you're fat and ugly, just go to the market during Carnival, you'll make a great mask. Now go diet/get plastic surgery. I heard you couldn't travel by helicopter to Canindé because you were overweight. Anyone who gets paid by Cohidro without working has no morals. I'm paying for a week of Herbalife for you, my ugly one. I just can't pay for the plastic surgery. I don't pay for the gym because I feel sorry for the treadmill. You're ugly, but I love you. Go work at Cohidro because you get paid there and provide services in Canindé. Dishonest, right?!”, Augusto stated in a series of tweets, some with even childish statements.

Faced with this attitude (which should not serve as an example for any other politician), the parliamentarian further justified himself: “Look how it is: I'm quiet, I'm attacked by a deranged person, and then people show up to give their opinions. Those who say what they want hear what they don't want. I only attack those who disrespect me.” Obviously, Gleice Queiroz didn't remain silent in response to Augusto's comments. She called him “the vomit of Sergipe politics.” And further: “If I stole like you, I would have already had plastic surgery. You're not in jail because you enjoy immunity. I weigh as much as fat, and you weigh as much as villainy. By the way, when are you going to start trading votes for a high school diploma?”

Beyond what has been said against Augusto by Machado Ana Alves, Gleice Queiroz, and TV Atalaia, it is unacceptable that a politician with a long career and experience in debates would choose aggression and rudeness. Even worse: that he would expose himself in this way through social media. What was perceived was the deputy's inability to overcome criticism in the face of the political agreement he attempted to build, sometimes with the government, sometimes with the opposition. The image that emerged of him was that of a politician who will do anything for positions and power, and who lacks self-control when questioned and criticized. That is what remains in the popular imagination. Will Augusto know how to handle the criticism from Sergipe 247?