Ethics Council prosecutes congressman Jair Bolsonaro

The Council for Parliamentary Ethics and Decorum started on Tuesday (Dec 16) the prosecution process of Deputy Jair Bolsonaro, from the Progressive Party (PP).

The complaint against the congressman was brought forward last Wednesday (10) by four parties: the Workers' Party (PT) and the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), from the government's coalition; the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) and the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL), from the opposition. They accuse Bolsonaro of having breached decorum when he offended deputy Maria do Rosário, from the Workers' Party, during a pronouncement at a plenary session at the Chamber of Deputies. On the occasion, Bolsonaro said he would not rape the congresswoman “because she's not worth it”. The remark was uttered by Bolsonaro after do Rosário made comments abut the National Truth Commission's final report on the military dictatorship, which names the military involved in torturing and killing dissidents during the period.

Previously, in his defense, Bolsonaro had declared he too was offended by the “accusations” against the military. “I'm a captain of the Army,” he said. He also stated that, after hearing the “slurs” uttered by the congresswoman, he just referred back to an incident which took place in 2003, in which, while Bolsonaro was giving his opinion about lowering the age of criminal responsibility in an interview, do Rosário called him a rapist.

“Even though men are less sensitive to taunts, she called me a rapist. I showed the footage. She was expressing her support for Champinha, who had raped and murdered a 16-year-old girl in São Paulo. I can't be blamed if she didn't like the arguments I used on Rede TV. She disrupted an interview, and later on tried to pass off as a victim,” he pointed out.

In spite of stating he feels no regrets, Bolsonaro acknowledged there must be a respectful atmosphere at the Chamber of Deputies. That did not keep him from teasing: “This place is far from being a convent.”

He was reluctant to make predictions on the decision of the Ethics Council, but proved optimistic as to the ruling of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), which received the indictment over incitement to rape from the Attorney General's Office (PGR).

“Article of 53 of the Constitution says that congressmen are immune at civil and legal levels for any words, opinions or statements. The PGR can't arbitrate. It denounces. [As regards] the footage [with the interview interrupted by Maria do Rosário in 2003], in case STF Minister Fux decides to carry on with it, I very strongly believe he'll eventually decide to file it away,” he pointed out.

At the council's room, Deputy Bolsonaro was met with the support of some people who knew about the proceedings. Outside the Congress building, however, demonstrators protested against his behavior. In the letter handed to the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Henrique Eduardo Alves, protesters present themselves as representatives from society and social movements and call for Bolsonaro's doing not to go unpunished.

“It cannot be tolerated that a political representative should once again adopt a criminal posture towards his fellow congressmen and his country, and get away with it. It cannot be tolerated that immunity should serve to support impunity. For years, Brazil has been watching as he utters prejudiced remarks which clearly incite hatred and violence against women, and also against social groups no less historically marginalized,” demonstrators declared.

Jair Bolsonaro was re-elected in October this year for his seventh tenure at Congress. He may be removed from office if the Ethics Council accepts the charge brought against him and if the majority of his peers confirms the decision in a vote.

A Federal Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul, Maria do Rosário was Minister of Human Rights Ministry under Rousseff—a position she left in order to successfully run for reelection.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira