The governor came out in defense of his political godfather, the former president (PL), in the investigation that found an attempted coup to keep him in power after his defeat in the 2022 elections.
Over the last few years, Tarcísio has been trying to balance a tightrope between the radicalism of his political group and the moderation he tries to impose on his management. At key moments, like this, however, the governor aligns himself with Bolsonaro, for whom he was Minister of Infrastructure.
It was like this, for example, when protesting on Avenida Paulista, in February, and again on September 7th, when due to the coup attacks on January 8th.
Tarcísio’s publication on social media this Thursday (21) accumulates distortions and omissions about the Bolsonarist coup. See which ones.
1. “There is a widespread narrative against President Jair Bolsonaro that lacks evidence”
Tarcísio does not clarify whether the narrative he refers to is disseminated by or by the (Supreme Federal Court), whose ministers he approached to try to calm the situation regarding the former president.
Throughout the year, the governor publicly denied the involvement of his political group in the attempt to reverse the electoral results, seeking to avoid holding Bolsonaro accountable.
“I don’t see why we, why this current, is under the attention of the Federal Police,” he stated in June, despite the advice accumulated by his political godfather.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Tarcísio approached Supreme Court ministers, especially to cool the temperature and improve relations with the Bolsonarists.
2. “You have to be very responsible about serious accusations like this”
Tarcísio suggests that there is a lack of responsibility in the indictment of Bolsonaro by the Federal Police, but does not indicate where the alleged flaws in the investigation would be.
3. “The president respected the election result”
to the election result.
After the defeat to Lula, he spent most of his time in silence. The former president took 45 hours to speak after the second round, and, when he spoke, he said that the demonstrations were the result of indignation and a feeling of injustice in relation to the electoral process. He also never tried to demobilize the coup camps that called for the reversal of the result and military intervention.
Even more serious, Bolsonaro on the possibility of coup actions after the defeat, according to their own testimony.
On the eve of the end of his term, the former president traveled to the United States and did not pass on the sash to the president, a historical tradition of respect for democracy. Recently, he reinforced that he “would never give a pass to someone like Lula”.
4. “And the inauguration took place in full normality and respect for democracy”
Once again, Tarcísio’s statement distorts the post-2022 election reality. The inauguration took place after months of —the most articulated event in Brasília, in front of the Army HQ—, whose protesters did not recognize the popular will and defended intervention by the Armed Forces .
In December, Bolsonaro supporters tried the Federal Police in the capital and set cars and buses on fire. Bolsonaro supporter George Washington de Oliveira Sousa was arrested for being in Brasília, including at the airport.
A week after Lula’s inauguration, on January 8, voters of the former president were unhappy with the results of the polls, vandalizing the buildings of the Federal Supreme Court, the National Congress and the Planalto Palace.
5. “May the ongoing research be carried out in order to bring to light the truth of the facts”
Tarcísio does not clarify what the truth of the facts would be and, again, does not point out where the inconsistencies were in the investigation concluded by the Federal Police.
Bolsonaro’s attacks on democracy
- He tried to undermine the credibility of the electoral process, without showing signs of irregularities, and inflamed supporters who called for a coup
- He consulted with the heads of the Armed Forces about the possibility of coup actions after the electoral defeat in 2022, according to their own testimony
- He made repeated attacks and threats against the STF, in an apparent attempt to undermine the system of checks and balances that limited his power
- He refused to recognize the results of the election, even without signs of irregularities, and to hand over the ticket to his successor
