After Moraes' order, Bolsonaro's allied congressman leaves camp

Federal deputy Hélio Lopes (PL-RJ) removed, in the early hours of this Saturday (26), the tent set up in front of the headquarters of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), following a decision by Minister Alexandre de Moraes.

An ally of former President Jair Bolsonaro, Lopes set up camp late yesterday afternoon and announced that he would remain on a silent strike in protest against the court's measures adopted against the former president and his allies.

Moraes' decision was made after the Attorney General's Office filed a representation for the decree of precautionary measures of immediate removal and prohibition of access and permanence of federal deputies camped in the Three Powers Square, as well as of any other individuals in front of the STF.

In addition to Lopes, the measure was also applied to federal deputies Sóstenes Cavalcante (PL-RJ), Cabo Gilberto Silva (PL-PB), Coronel Chrisóstomo (PL-RO) and Rodrigo da Zaeli (PL-MT).

The minister prohibited any occupation or obstruction of Praça dos Três Poderes, and also ordered local authorities in the Federal District to adopt appropriate preventive and repressive measures, identifying and documenting any illicit practices, under penalty of personal liability for public officials “with legal authority to act in the face of such conduct.”

Moraes also ordered arrest in flagrante delicto based on the practice of resistance or disobedience to the act of public authority for anyone who fails to comply with the decision.

The minister argued that the right to assembly and demonstration cannot be exercised in an “abusive manner and in a manner that undermines the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, the requirements of health or morality, public order, national security, public safety, the defense of order and the prevention of crime, and the well-being of society.”

Moraes also argued that the "camp" was set up with the purpose of repeating the "illegal and coup-mongering" camps held in front of the Army barracks, throughout 2022 and early 2023. According to the minister, the attitude aimed to make the functioning of the STF unfeasible and to subvert the democratic order.

“There is no other interpretation to be drawn from the attempted repetition of the illegal occupation of public roads by coup camps held in front of the Brazilian Army and the regrettable coup conduct carried out in Praça dos Três Poderes on Sunday, 8/1/2023,” he wrote.

The decision states that the measure aims only to ensure compliance with legal limits on the exercise of the right to demonstrate, “ensuring that freedom of expression is not used as an instrument of interference, violence or harm to public order in accordance with the rule of law and the principles that guide the jurisdiction.”

In a complementary decision, the minister also prohibited the establishment of any encampment within a one-kilometer radius of Praça dos Três Poderes, Esplanada dos Ministérios and, “obviously, in front of the Armed Forces barracks.”