Brazilian senator Eduardo GirĂŁo told The Epoch Times that there is a real hunt for those who oppose the “owners of power” in the country. Within a span of less than ten days, Brazilian federal investigators raided the offices and homes of right-wing lawmakers Carlos Jordy and Alexandre Ramagem, both of whom are close allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Mr. Jordy became a focal point of investigations after a rioter involved in the Jan. 8, 2023, riots referred to him in a text message exchange as “my leader” and claimed he had the power to “block it all.” The Federal Police executed a search warrant against him based on an alleged “anti-democratic” conspiracy against the state.
The Jan. 8, 2023, riots saw the storming of key government buildings in Brazil in the wake of protests casting doubt on the legitimacy of the electoral process and opposing President Lula. Mr. Jordy has opposed the narrative that the incident was a “coup” or “insurrection”. Mr. Ramagem, who previously headed the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN), was targeted in a separate investigation focused on alleged illegal surveillance activities suspected to have occurred during the Bolsonaro administration. Among the suspected targets of the spying were Supreme Court Justices and politicians, according to authorities.
Mr. Ramagem and Mr. Jordy are both hopefuls in the 2024 mayoral elections, and they and other right-wing leaders alleged political persecution amid their campaigns. Brazilian senator Eduardo Girão told The Epoch Times: “The regime established in Brazil building on the ideological alignment between activist justices in the Supreme Court and the Lula administration continues its quest to persecute political opponents, claiming yet another victim and causing apprehension among the Brazilian populace.”
Brazil’s political landscape is increasingly characterized by deep divisions, with the Supreme Court at the center of controversy. Local conservatives have frequently labeled the Court’s actions as authoritarian, pointing to a series of decisions that they argue infringe on political freedoms and overstep judicial boundaries. The Westminster Declaration, a document underscoring concerns about free speech worldwide, has cited concerns about the criminalization of political speech in Brazil, specifically singling out Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Moraes has been involved in several high-profile cases, including the ordering of investigations and raids against prominent right-wing politicians and activists. His actions are often seen by conservatives as politically motivated and a threat to free speech.