CURITIBA—Brazilian federal investigators, within a span of less than ten days, raided the offices and homes of two right-wing lawmakers.
The congressmen targeted, Deputy Carlos Jordy and Deputy Alexandre Ramagem, are both staunch allies of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who lost to socialist Lula da Silva in the 2022 elections.
Mr. Jordy, a notable opposition figure in Congress, became a focal point of investigations after a protester involved in Jan. 8, 2023, riots at key government buildings referred to him in a text message exchange as “my leader” and wrote that he had the power to “block it all.” The search warrant executed by the Federal Police was based on an alleged “anti-democratic” conspiracy against the state.
The Jan. 8 riots—reminiscent of the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach—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 Mr. Lula.
Jordy has opposed the narrative that the incident was a “coup” or “insurrection,” as alleged by the Lula administration, the Brazilian justice system, and local media outlets. While the details of the events remain disputed, conservatives claim the mainstream narratives about them have been weaponized to target dissent.
Mr. Ramagem, previously the head of 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 alleged suspected targets of the spying were Supreme Court Justices and politicians, according to authorities. According to a Federal Police report, the intelligence activities supposedly aimed at producing information for political purposes and personal gain at ABIN under Mr. Ramagem—including alleged efforts to safeguard two sons of former president Bolsonaro from possible prosecution.
Mr. Ramagem has denied any wrongdoing and the illegal use of spying tools to monitor public figures under his orders. He says his administration acted to rectify malpractice within ABIN and that the use of the tools he’s accused of abusing predate both the Bolsonaro administration and his term at ABIN.
Allegations of Persecution
Mr. Ramagem and Mr. Jordy are both hopefuls in the 2024 mayoral elections, with each of them running in the two biggest cities in the state of Rio de Janeiro. They and other right-wing leaders alleged political persecution amid their campaigns.“Both of us, whether that is or not a coincidence, are possible mayoral candidates. The persecution being carried out, which is unequivocal and evident, against freedom of speech, as seen on social media [...] terrify the people’s democratic right to be out in the streets,” Mr. Ramagem said in a video on his X account.
“It is not desirable [for them] that the right-wing’s banner makes its way into town halls.”
Mr. Jordy agrees.
“The justice [system] has let go of the balance, and only their sword is left. If there’s no reaction at the National Congress to reestablish prerogatives and equilibrium, the dictatorship will reach all, even those who applaud tyranny. Or do you think power that’s taken will be given back?” Mr. Jordy wrote in an online statement.
The recent police operations sparked a flurry of reactions from Brazilian congressmen.
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.”
“Last week, it was Rep. Jordy, opposition leader in the House. Yesterday, it was Rep. Ramagem, the leader of the minority in Congress. Who’s next to be vilified for opposing this rotten “system”?”
“We are experiencing a real hunt for those who oppose the “owners of power” in the country,” Mr. Girão said.
Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, shared a video of Mr. Jordy at a press conference in his social media and wrote that “Brazil is already a dictatorship.”
Another vocal congressman, Bia Kicis, echoed this sentiment in her social media. She said: “Congress needs to react immediately, or soon there will be no Congress.”
Former congressmen Deltan Dallagnol voiced concerns that, amid criticism of a weaponized justice system, Mr. Jordy’s phones and laptops apprehended by the Federal Police on their operation could compromise the local right-wing’s political strategy.
“Access to Jordy’s cell phone and computer will give the Supreme Court, which in the words of ministers from the court itself is experiencing a “honeymoon” with the Lula administration, access to all the strategies of the opposition, led by Jordy in the Chamber of Deputies.”
In a show of support and defiance, Mr. Jordy, who was about to leave his role as head of the opposition in Congress, was reinstated at the role on an event that gathered dozens of congressmen in Brasília, even during the Parliament’s recess.
A Divided Country
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 published in Oct. 2023, pointed to the “criminalization of political speech” in Brazil. This declaration, gaining international attention, specifically referenced Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Critics accuse Moraes of leading efforts that suppress dissent and target opposition figures, actions they deem contrary to democratic principles.
Signatories of the Westminster Declaration host dozens of journalists, academics, politicians, and others from a wide range of the political spectrum among its signatories. This includes journalists Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger, whistleblower Edward Snowden, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, psychologist Jordan B. Peterson and filmmaker Oliver Stone.
Moraes has been involved in several high-profile cases, including the ordering of investigations and raids against prominent right-wing politicians and activists. He authorized the operations targeting both Mr. Jordy and Mr. Ramagem. His actions are often seen by conservatives as politically motivated and a threat to free speech.
This perception has contributed to a widening rift in Brazilian society, with the Supreme Court’s role becoming a polarizing issue. Supporters of the Court argue that its actions are necessary to uphold the rule of law and counter misinformation, while detractors view it as a tool of political repression and often cite it as “weaponized”.
