The day before yesterday’s 7th September Bolsonaro rally has reversed the trend of events by turning the tide. However, Ministers are now saying that Bolsonaro was misleading his supporters by promising a ministerial meeting, as it had never been on the agenda. Some say he is getting too big for his boots!
After Jair Bolsonaro said in Brasilia that he would assemble the Congress, members of the Ministry claimed that the president was "mistaken" when mentioning the institution which, among other attributions discusses the stability of democratic institutions of law. According to advisers, Bolsonaro referred to a meeting of the Brazilian Council which regularly brings together ministers and VP Hamilton Mourão to discuss executive matters.
With no proper planning or agreement from the legislative body of Brazil's federal government the President’s office sent a notice to the ministries to include a forecast of the meeting for 9:30am Wednesday, at the Planalto Palace. Last week, however, the Special Secretariat for Communication (Secom) announced a visit by Bolsonaro to Ceagesp, in Guarulhos in São Paulo, 8th September at 10 am. How is that possible, one may ask!
However, Bolsonaro is adamant that speaking to Ministers in Council is on the cards. He said, "I'm going to São Paulo and back, I'll be together with ministers, the president of the Chamber, the Senate and the Federal Supreme Court, with this photograph of you showing where we should all go," said Bolsonaro.
Although he said that the representative of the STF would be present, the Judiciary is not part of the assembly. According to the Constitution, the president of the Republic, the vice president, the presidents of the Chamber (Arthur Lira) and the Senate (Rodrigo Pacheco), in addition to the majority and minority leaders of the two legislative houses, participate in the council. The Minister of Justice and six citizens over 35 years of age are also expected to attend, with the Presidency, Chamber and Senate appointing two people each.
Among the members of the Council are senator Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL, leader of the majority), rapporteur of the CPI of Covid, opponent of the president, and federal deputy Marcelo Freixo (PSB-RJ, leader of the minority), who has already announced that will not attend the meeting. Rodrigo Pacheco told GLOBO that there was no compromise on any commitment from the Council in the coming days.
According to Luiz Fux, the President of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), disregarding a court decision is a crime of responsibility and no one will close the STF. He went on that President Jair Bolsonaro made threats to overthrow the Supreme Court in pro-government demonstrations this Tuesday and Bolsonaro will not comply with the decisions of Minister Alexandre de Moraes.
The real twist comes as Bolsonaro is acting as though he can change constitutional law in which the STF was formed in May 1808. Many feel that there must be corruption within the organization, however, what took over two centuries of development through judicious and legal practice is unlikely to be taken seriously, as many upstanding and honorable politicians will be disappointed with such deceptive methods used to gain more followers for the 2022 Presidential Election.
Answer the following multi-choice questions:
1. What does the expression, ‘getting too big for his boots’ mean?
A) He’s too confident or proud of himself.
B) His boots are too small.
C) He’s outgrowing his boots because he wants to change things that he has no control over.
2. What does the expression, ‘on the cards’ mean?
A) It is unlikely to happen.
B) He could be lucky and win a jackpot.
C) It is very likely to happen.
Correct answers will be noted in the next blog.
Correct answers for ‘Reaching Utopia’ blog 2nd September.
A. Utopia = ‘paradise’, ‘never-never land, and seventh heaven.
B. Existing state of affairs = ‘Status quo’
C. Trump card = ‘winner’