Brazil’s left takes to streets to bolster Covid CPI and erode Bolsonaro support

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With demonstrations scheduled for next Saturday, May 29, in over 110 cities, including all 27 state capitals, the Brazilian left will take to the streets against Jair Bolsonaro with the aim of eroding support for the president and boosting the Covid CPI, even though impeachment is still seen as something distant.

Although parties and movements behind the call claim that the motto “Fora Bolsonaro” (“Bolsonaro Out!)” translates the desire for immediate removal, leaders accept that there are obstacles to the development of an impeachment proceeding. However, they see the protests as a passport that may lead to this outcome.

Leftist opposition forces to Bolsonaro have been polarized in recent months about holding popular rallies amid the Covid-19 pandemic, but have come to realize that the uncontrolled nature of the virus and the unemployment and hunger rates demand street protests.

The dilemma between the pro-social isolation stance and the encouragement of crowds has resulted in different levels of turnout. The CUT (Central Workers Union) and the MST (Movement of Landless Rural Workers) are not calling their members institutionally, although they are not preventing them from going.

The PT, PSOL, PC do B, PCB, PCO, and UP political parties have declared their support for the initiative and are calling for militants, but point out that the organization is the responsibility of social fronts like Povo sem Medo (Fearless People), Brasil Popular (Popular Brazil), and Coalizão Negra por Direitos (Black Coalition for Rights), which comprise dozens of organizations.

To neutralize criticism, which has emerged both among government supporters and detractors, organizers have been distributing safety guidelines for people attending the events, such as the use of a PFF2 type mask and the request to keep social distancing.

The assessment is that impeachment may be strengthened through street protests. Therefore, the effort is to pressure the Centrão voting bloc in Congress, loyal to Bolsonaro and an obstacle to impeachment proceedings in the Chamber, and Chamber president Arthur Lira (PP-AL), in charge of disinterring at least one of the 114 motions that have been piled up on his desk.

The theory that PT, one of the parties behind the protests, was more interested in undermining the president until the 2022 election, rather than working for his removal from office during his term, was rejected by party leaders and allied parties.

The argument is that, although some PT names advocate the strategy behind the scenes, it does not enjoy the support of the leadership or of ex-president Lula, who is a pre-candidate and leads voting intentions for 2022, according to Datafolha – with 41% in the first round, compared to 23% for Bolsonaro.

The PT was encouraged by the institute’s survey that in May showed that 49% of the population supports the impeachment (in March, the opinion was endorsed by 46% of respondents) and with the repercussion of the Senate CPI investigating the government’s accountability in the crisis that has killed over 452,000 people in the country.

“The CPI is providing important information,” says the PT’s national president Gleisi Hoffmann. “With the testimonies, we can see the government’s errors and omissions, in a formal way, and not only through the press. This will shape the foundation supporting an impeachment motion against Bolsonaro.”

According to the federal deputy, impeachment is a political proceeding and, given the government’s projected loss of support, it would be possible to complete it by the end of the year. “We will show that the people are unhappy and that we do not agree with what is happening in Brazil.”

In February this year, even before his electoral eligibility was reinstated, Lula said he believed there was not enough time for the completion of a case against Bolsonaro. In subsequent interviews, however, the ex-president said there were sufficient grounds to oust his rival, and blamed Lira for his lack of action.

Last week, asked about the influence of the CPI in a motion for impeachment, the leftist ex-president replied: “The CPI is fulfilling an important role, which is to establish the full truth of what happened in this country. You see, no one wants to condemn anyone. What we need is to investigate the facts.”

Lula also stated that he believes that his opponent is “directly responsible” for the deaths and the failure to fight the pandemic. “The CPI is crucial. I don’t know what the result will be, but it is rendering an enormous service to Brazilian democracy and to restoring the truth,” he said.

According to the far-left PSOL pre-candidate for São Paulo governor, Guilherme Boulos, the only factor lacking to develop the necessary conditions for the removal of the president is the streets: “We already have his loss of popularity and the political and economic crises. Bolsonaro is becoming toxic even for the Centrão, which will not hesitate to abandon him.”

According to Boulos, one of the coordinators of the ‘Povo sem Medo’ front and engaged in the call for rallies, mobilizations “point to the prospect of impeachment, but they also have an immediate effect of being a reaction from society, of showing its rejection of the government’s acts.”

“This story of ‘bleeding Bolsonaro’ [makes no sense]. The one who is bleeding is Brazil. If nothing is done, the country will become a wasteland. We are talking about lives. No minor political calculation can guide our mobilization,” he adds.

Boulos says he has “no doubt” that if at some point proceedings against Bolsonaro advance in Congress, “the whole left-wing will be pushing for it.”

Next Saturday’s demonstrations also embrace agendas such as the acceleration of Covid vaccination, the reinstatement of the full R$600 (US$114) emergency aid, the anti-racist struggle, the fight against police violence, the attack on privatization and the defense of public education.

“I think it has everything for an atmosphere to begin to blossom in society [for Bolsonaro’s removal], but what we need most at this moment is vaccination and R$600 aid. It can’t be all about impeachment and leave the other issues aside,” says João Paulo Rodrigues, from the MST’s national board of directors.

Despite skepticism regarding proceedings against Bolsonaro, taking to the streets has become imperative, according to Raimundo Bonfim, national coordinator of CMP (Center for Popular Movements). “Our position is for impeachment. Whether we will succeed at the end of these demonstrations, that is a consequence.”

“I believe that the CPI can be the fuse, exposing the government’s responsibility. The senators are collecting all the evidence, while the president mocks the suffering of the people,” he says.

On Wednesday, May 26, labor unions and union movements held a protest in Brasilia, on the lawn outside the National Congress, to denounce the rise of hunger in Brazil, complain about the management of the health crisis and ask for a readjustment in the amount of the emergency aid.

The initiative was regarded as symbolic, with the presence of a small number of people and the broadcast of speeches through social networks. The protesters sought out legislators to display their banners and donated food to recyclable material collectors.

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