A dictatorship exposed to the world

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(This is an English version of the text originally published by Gazeta do Povo on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024)

If anyone had any doubts outside of Brazil about what is happening here, that doubt just ran out. Even in Australia (as the joke goes), the news is already circulating, but this time it's not a joke. The Australian media, in a very considered way, has also dealt with the issue – as well as TV networks, newspapers, radio stations, and websites around the world.

In recent days, we have seen the revelation of the Twitter Files Brazil, made by American journalist Michael Schellenberger, in partnership with Gazeta do Povo contributors David Ágape and Eli Vieira Junior. It shows that many people, including myself, a Brazilian representative, were included in an extensive list of those monitored by the Superior Electoral Court by its president, Alexandre de Moraes. I am even one of the thousands of Brazilians censored, something that the Constitution forbids.

And precisely because they are not Brazilians, Musk and Schellenberger should serve as an inspiration to all of us Brazilians to confront with redoubled energy the tyranny that is gripping our country

The entering of Elon Musk, the X owner, into the discussion brings hope for Brazilians and also an uncomfortable situation for the dictator, the Justice Alexandre de Moraes, and his partner in authoritarianism, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This entering brings out the uncomfortable situation that, now when they are unmasked, they will have to decide whether – in the eyes of the world – they will continue to be seen as true dictators and tyrants, or whether they will finally back down and allow Brazil, once again, to live in peace and democratic freedom.

It’s sad that we’ve reached this situation. That’s why I’m asking for a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI, in Portuguese) on abuse of authority to be set up. It already has the 171 signatures of parliamentarians who mobilized against censorship, the blocking of accounts, and the death of Cleriston Pereira da Cunha, called Clezão, whose death occurred in Papuda’s prison. As I’ve reported on other occasions, Cleriston’s death occurred in prison because Justice Alexandre de Moraes chose to ignore for more than two months the opinion of the Brazilian Attorney General’s Office, which was for his release. Sadly, even a death had to occur for the 171 signatures at the end of last year to finally be achieved. Now, the responsibility for opening this CPI, so that it can start running, lies with the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira.

It’s ironic, indeed hypocritical, that the left complains about billionaire Elon Musk’s X, but uses the services provided by his platform on the social network to direct complaints at him. If they don’t like X or Musk, wouldn't it be more coherent for them to leave the platform? Consistency, however, is not the strong suit of the left and has unfortunately not even been the strong suit of a large part of the Brazilian press. While many journalists denounce the networks as a space for spreading fake news – as if disinformation only existed on the internet by the way – they give the conspiracy theories and fantasies created by the PT government ample coverage. One example is the fantasy that Elon Musk and Michael Schellenberger are acting, without the slightest proof, in collusion with a supposed international “far right” to destabilize the government and attack Brazilian sovereignty.

However, what we saw was an absolutely spontaneous reaction from the Brazilian population, fed up with censorship and tyranny, in support of those who are willing to fight with them. I myself, for instance, was unaware of the publication of the Twitter Files Brazil, and even less so that I too would be mentioned in the journalistic investigation. Journalist Michael Schellenberger, on the other hand, was in the city of Porto Alegre to talk at the Freedom Forum (which had an environmental subject), and decided to stay in Brazil only after the repercussions of his work out of love for freedom and democracy, to defend what he believes in.

Therefore, the repercussions are not due to any kind of coordination, but because the indignation of the Brazilian people has overflowed for a long time. And also because Alexandre de Moraes has angered someone who isn’t afraid of a good fight when it’s fair. Defying accusations that he would only look after his company’s profits, Elon Musk shows that he is not afraid of the consequences of his stance. This is the stance of someone who is certain in defending principles. And precisely because they are not Brazilians, Musk and Schellenberger should serve as an inspiration to all of us Brazilians to confront with redoubled energy the tyranny that is gripping our country.

Marcel van Hattem

Marcel van Hattem é deputado federal em segundo mandato pelo NOVO-RS, possui bacharelado em Relações Internacionais e especialização em Direito, Economia e Democracia Constitucional, ambos pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). É mestre em Ciência Política pela Universidade de Leiden; em Jornalismo, Mídia e Globalização pelas Universidades de Aarhus/Dinamarca e de Amsterdã - Holanda. Marcel é egresso do Programa de Liderança Política, Social e Empresarial da Georgetown University em Washington, D.C., Estados Unidos. Na Câmara dos Deputados, Marcel é vice-líder da oposição ao governo Lula. **Os textos do colunista não expressam, necessariamente, a opinião da Gazeta do Povo.

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