After meeting Bolsonaro, Brazil truckers promise to maintain blockades against Supreme Court

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Trucker leaders said on Thursday, after meeting with President Jair Bolsonaro, that their “claims agenda” is against the Supreme Court (STF) and that the roadblocks will not cease until they are received by Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco (DEM-MG).

At the Planalto Palace, they told the press that Bolsonaro did not ask them to end the blockades on highways and on the Esplanade of Ministries.

According to the most recent bulletin released by the Ministry of Infrastructure, there are records of paralysis on highways in 13 states, but there are no interdictions.

The truck drivers went to the first floor of the Planalto Palace after more than three hours of meeting with the president. Also present at the meeting were Infrastructure Minister Tarcísio Freitas and federal deputies Carla Zambelli (PSL-SP) and Vitor Hugo (PSL-GO).

One of the truck drivers, Francisco Dalmora Burgadt, who identified himself as “Chico Caminhoneiro” and was a candidate for councilman in the city of Canoinhas (SC) in 2020, said that the mobilization would continue until Pacheco receives them.

The president of the Senate is to receive impeachment requests from STF Justices, such as the one that Bolsonaro presented against Alexandre de Morais on the last 20th – and was rejected by Pacheco.

“We are here representing a segment of Brazilian society. We established an agenda to deliver a document to Senator Rodrigo Pacheco. And so far, we have not been successful. We are still waiting to be received by him”, said Burgadt. “Maybe there are some questions about how long it [the mobilization] will last. We are waiting to be received by Senator Rodrigo Pacheco. Until that is accomplished, we are mobilized throughout Brazil.”

Asked about the group’s agenda, Burgadt said that “this is something that is being elaborated, destined directly to him [Pacheco].” But he assured me that fuel prices are not among the demands.

“I can’t tell you what the demands are,” he said. “We don’t have anything regarding fuel prices at this moment. We are mobilized for the rights of freedom, the rights of expression, the right to demonstrate. The Brazilian people, unfortunately, are being prevented from taking a position on many issues, and we need this to change for the Constitution to be fully respected.”

On Wednesday, Bolsonaro released audio that circulated through WhatsApp groups asking truckers to undo the blockades. According to Burgadt, however, the president did not repeat the call at Thursday’s meeting.

“The president didn’t ask us for anything. We are here on a courtesy visit since we came to the Senate, and unfortunately, we could not be received,” he said. “And since we are mobilized here, we took the opportunity to be with the president, who, by the way, was very cordial. And we are moving forward to build an agenda that is positive for all the Brazilian people.”

Another truck driver who spoke to the press was Cleomar José Immich, from Sinop (MT). He reinforced that the category’s agenda “is the STF” and insisted on a meeting with Pacheco. “Our agenda has never been with the president. Our agenda has always been the STF via the Senate. The Senate would have an obligation to attend and try to resolve our issue. The dissatisfaction of the Brazilian people with the Judiciary that would be it,” he said.

Immich complained that the Executive was the only branch of government that “opened the doors and received them to understand what is happening and why it is happening.” He also complained that some press sectors “are saying that our agenda is against the president.”

“We are Brazilians, patriots, truck drivers in that order. But I wouldn’t say that our agenda is against the STF. We want all forces, all political forces to work within the framework of the Constitution,” he said.

At the press conference, Zambelli and Vitor Hugo said they had filed a habeas corpus petition to revoke the imprisonment of truck driver Marcos Antonio Pereira Gomes. “Zé Trovão”, as he is known, was arrested last week by Alexandre de Moraes for inciting an antidemocratic act on September 7. He is on the run but has already been located by the Federal Police in a hotel in Mexico City.