International politicians, intellectuals, and activists are calling for respect for the results of the Brazilian elections.
Among those who signed the manifesto are Noam Chomsky, Mélenchon, Danny Glover, Roger Waters, and Estela de Carlotto.
247 A group of intellectuals, activists, and prestigious political leaders support a virtual manifesto warning of the risk of instability in Brazil given the behavior of Jair Bolsonaro and his allies in discrediting the Brazilian electoral system. They also advocate for free elections in October and respect for the results of the polls.
Among those who signed the manifesto are Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon, American linguist Noam Chomsky, and French political leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The text also has the support of Estela de Carlotto, president of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo association in Argentina, actor and activist Danny Glover, and musician Roger Waters.
"Democracy in Brazil today needs the support and vigilance of the world. Ensuring that the constitution and popular suffrage are respected is our shared responsibility," the text argues.
“The time has come to raise a powerful international solidarity movement in defense of the democratic process in Brazil. That is why we, intellectuals, politicians, artists, activists, and citizens, call for the following demands: That the presidential elections in Brazil take place in accordance with the Constitution; That all threats and violence against candidates and their supporters be condemned and combated; That republican institutions be maintained in their functions and their decisions respected; That the armed forces do not interfere in the electoral process, neither in the counting of results nor in the transfer of power,” he adds.
International solidarity is not an empty word.
With the approach of the presidential elections in Brazil, scheduled for Sunday, October 2, 2022, several political and intellectual figures from around the world have signed a call for free elections and respect for the results of the polls in Brazil. Among those who signed are: Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon, American linguist Noam Chomsky, and French political leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
In a few weeks, Brazil will hold its ninth presidential election since the end of the military dictatorship, and for the first time since 1988, there is a great risk that the popular vote will not be heard and respected.
For several years, President Jair Bolsonaro has been planning to contest his eventual defeat by discrediting the Brazilian electoral system. He accuses judges of the higher courts of being corrupt and partisan, predicts that votes will be rigged, and suspects that the media is working for the opposing camp. Inspired by Donald Trump's strategy, the Brazilian president mobilizes his supporters by presenting himself as a victim, persecuted by an establishment sold to the left, and as the sole savior and redeemer of the nation. He demonizes his adversaries and designates them as enemies. In doing so, he prepares militants, many of them armed, for political violence and even insurrection.
This drift is not surprising given his openly nostalgic stance towards the military dictatorship and his contempt for republican institutions, political pluralism, and the rule of law. But today, as Head of the Executive Branch and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he utters these extremist diatribes, while four years in power have radicalized his militant base. No coup d'état has ever been so widely anticipated.
Democracy in Brazil today needs the support and vigilance of the world. Ensuring that the constitution and popular suffrage are respected is our shared responsibility.
The fate of a country of continental dimensions, with a population exceeding 212 million, an environmental heritage of crucial importance for the future of the planet, and a leading role in the global economy and governance, is a matter whose consequences extend far beyond Brazil's borders. The strength of Brazilian democracy and respect for the rule of law, human rights, the environment, the rights of indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups are issues that concern everyone and, as such, are the object of our legitimate attention and solidarity. The democracy of this immense country is our common good, and we cannot remain mere spectators.
The time has come to raise a powerful international solidarity movement in defense of the democratic process in Brazil.
That is why we, intellectuals, politicians, artists, activists, and citizens, are calling for this demand:
- That the presidential elections in Brazil take place in accordance with the Constitution;
- All threats and violence against candidates and their supporters must be condemned and combated.
- That republican institutions be maintained in their functions and their decisions respected;
- The armed forces should not interfere in the electoral process, neither in the counting of results nor in the transfer of power.
Democracy is a precious and fragile asset, of which we are all guarantors. In this year in which Brazil celebrates the bicentennial of its independence, its historical challenge continues to be that of defending a democratic, pluralistic, and inclusive country. Brazilian democracy is also ours, and international solidarity should not be an empty word.
I've already signed.
Baltazar Garzon – Judge, Spain
Danny Glover – Actor/Citizen, USA
Eric Fassin – University of Paris, 8, France
Estela de Carlotto – President, Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo
Eugenio Raul Zaffaroni – Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Argentina, 2003-2014, and since 2015, Judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Gerardo Pisarello – Member of Parliament, First Secretary of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, Podemos, Spain
Guillaume Long – Advisory Board of CAF, Ecuador, former Foreign Minister
Idoia Villanueva – Member of the European Parliament, Podemos and International Secretary of Podemos, Spain
International Committee – Democratic Socialists of America
Ione Bellara – Minister of Social Rights, Podemos, Spain
Jean-Luc Mélenchon – Founder of the La France Insoumise Movement, France
Juan Carlos Monedero – Podemos, Spain
Noam Chomsky – University of Arizona, USA
Olivier Compagnon – Institute for Advanced Studies of Latin America, Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris, France
Pablo Iglesias – Podemos, Spain, former vice president
Pierre Salama – Member of the District Council of Seine-Saint-Denis
Rodolfo Nin – Former Vice President and former Foreign Minister, Uruguay
Roger Waters - Musician, singer, songwriter and composer, United Kingdom
Silvia Capanema – Sorbonne University, Paris North, France
William Bourdon – CAF Network, France