WSJ logo highlighted in the illustrative photo.| Photo: Big Stock
The largest American newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, published an article this Monday fair (24) observing the movements of the campaign of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the decisions of the Superior Court Electoral Council (TSE) in relation to news that criticize the candidate. The text entitled “Brazilian Left tries to muzzle political discourse” (Brazil’s Left Tries to Gag Political Speech
) was written by Mary Anastasia O’Grady, member of the journal’s board.
“Brazil’s Constitution prohibits censorship, and the court’s brazen repression of freedom of expression alarmed the nation. But judge (Alexandre) de Moraes, who is also president of the STF, shows no signs of retreat”, points out the author.
O’Grady summarizes the political scenario in Brazil and describes that Lula’s voters are concentrated, especially, among the poorest, the elite, progressives and environmentalists. She also highlights that, on the other hand, popular center-right politicians, such as Romeu Zema, governor of the New Party in the state of Minas Gerais, and Tarcísio de Freitas, candidate of the Republican Party in the second round of government in São Paulo, are campaign by Jair Bolsonaro. The columnist recalls that the president also usually gathers votes from the working and middle classes, startup entrepreneurs, other businessmen, social conservatives, landowners and agribusiness, in addition to the public that rejects Lula because of his history of corruption.
“The former president ( Lula) is particularly sensitive about his conviction for corruption in 2017 It was dropped by a technicality in and he was released. But when Brazilians are reminded of what sent him to prison, they recall the massive scandals of corruption that arose during the 10 years old – 1280-1280 – in which his Workers’ Party held the presidency. appealed to the judge of Moraes to ask for help”, explains the American journalist.
O’Grady warns that the TSE “however, has no authority to approve or disapprove of public opinion”. After describing the types of retaliation against vehicles and people who published articles that criticize the former president and candidate, the columnist ends by saying that “this makes us wonder what Brazil will be like if Lula wins”.