RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro verbally attacked a journalist of TV Vanguarda, a Globo affiliate, during his passage through the city of Guaratinguetá (São Paulo state), this Monday, June 21. The reporter, Laurene Santos, questioned the fact that the president arrived without a mask at the event, where Bolsonaro attended the graduation ceremony of the School of Specialists of Aeronautics, receiving supporters.
“I arrive as I want, where I want, I take care of my life,” he said. Visibly irritated, the president took off the mask he wore during the interview and added, “Stop bringing up the subject.”
When Laurene Santos, instead of remaining silent, interrupted the president, reprimanding him, and called his attention to the São Paulo state law that requires the use of masks, Bolsonaro told her to shut up: “Shut up. You are rogues. You are doing rogue journalism, and that is not helpful in any way. You’re not helping at all. Globo is a lousy press. They are a lousy press.”
“If you destroy the Brazilian family and the Brazilian religion, that’s not okay. Globo is not good. It’s a terrible source of information. If you don’t watch Globo, you don’t have information. If you watch it, you are misinformed. You should be ashamed of yourself for doing such a dirty job at Globo,” he told the reporter.
Globo Group fired back, headlining the same evening: “Trying to silence and attack the press is typical of fascists.”
Brazilian International Press Association is appalled
Only a couple of hours later, an angry Brazilian International Press Association (ABI) called for the resignation of Jair Bolsonaro as president in a statement released on the same day.
“Uncontrolled,” “deranged,” “crazy,” “exalted,” “irritable,” “irascible,” “hallucinated.” Any of these expressions could be used to classify the behavior of President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday, insulting journalists,” says the text signed by Paulo Jeronimo, president of ABI.
The note goes on to say that the president “has never appreciated a free and critical press”: “It won’t be long before he physically attacks a journalist.”
The text suggests that Bolsonaro is preparing an “authoritarian exit in response to a possible defeat in the 2022 elections.”
ABI reiterated its position in favor of impeaching the president, and reiterated that the president is not capable of governing Brazil. Another solution – even better, because faster – would be for him to resign voluntarily. “So, resign President!” the panel demands.