Thousands are protesting in Brazil against the blocking of the online service X. Former President Bolsonaro is on the side of the demonstrators.
São Paulo – Against the backdrop of the blocking of the online service X in Brazil, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on Saturday. Among them was the right-wing extremist ex-president Jair Bolsonarowho spoke to the crowd in São Paulo. Banners at the demonstration called for “democracy” and “freedom”. Specifically, Judge Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil’s Supreme Court, who had ordered the X ban, should also be removed from office.
Bolsonaro also called for impeachment proceedings against the judge, whom he called a “dictator” during a speech at the demonstration. According to his staff, even treatment for a “bad flu” did not stop him from speaking. “We will put a stop to those who exceed the limits of our constitution,” said Bolsonaro. “May this sea of people serve as an inspiration to our congressmen so that we can regain our freedom, so that there is no censorship, no internet blocks and no exaggerations,” said the ex-president, according to the Brazilian news site Carta Capital.
Strategically important for Bolsonaro: Right-wing hate speech and fake news on X and Co.
The ban is fatal for the strategy of the right in Brazil. Especially during Bolsonaro’s term in office from 2019 to 2022, Bolsonaro’s supporters used social networks to spread false information and Hate speechA so-called hate cabinet in Bolsonaro’s presidential office is said to have spread doubts about the Brazilian electoral system and incited hatred against political opponents through organized smear campaigns.
Moraes, who ordered the shutdown of X in the South American country on August 30, accused X of not being decisive enough in combating the spread of hate speech and fake news. The judge had previously ordered the blocking of X accounts belonging to right-wing activists.
Musk described this as illegal, the US platform did not comply with the request – and did not pay the imposed fine. Musk also did not comply with the request to appoint a legal representative for X in Brazil on time. On the contrary, X even planned to withdraw from Brazil. Elon Musk, the owner of X, who himself represents political right-wing positions, sees himself as a defender of free speech and accuses Moraes of censorship.
Long-running legal dispute: “Tropical Trump” Bolsonaro and Elon Musk in focus
Back in April, Moraes had already initiated an investigation against Musk himself for obstruction of justice and incitement to criminal acts. At that time, too, Bolsonaro held a rally “in defense of freedom of expression” on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which was attended by thousands of supporters. Apart from Bolsonaro supporters, however, few seemed to be bothered by the eventual X ban.
Right-wing politicians had already called for the demonstration on Brazilian Independence Day before the decision to block the online service X nationwide. It took place a month before the local elections in Brazil and was intended to show the support of right-wing politicians in the divided country. Among other things, the ex-president also repeatedly called for an amnesty for his supporters who had been sentenced to prison terms for the attack on the government district in Brasília on January 8, 2023.
Several investigations are also underway against former President Bolsonaro, known as the “Tropical Trump”. Among other things, the police accuse him of having been involved in plans for a coup in order to stay in power after his election defeat in October 2022. In January 2023, supporters of the right-wing ex-president Government building stormed and claims without evidence that Bolsonaro’s election victory was stolen. He is barred from holding public office until 2030, also by order of Moraes. So it is probably also a personal feud. (lismah/dpa/AFP)
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