Bolsonaro’s official visit to Portugal is scheduled for the beginning of 2020.
A note from the Bloc to which Lusa had access, referred to statements by Bolsonaro about the death of a student and political activist Fernando Santa Cruz, reported missing in 1974, in the middle of the military dictatorship in Brazil.
If [the visit] were to take place, it would signal to our brothers in Brazil that the Portuguese government is conniving with the constant disrespect to democracy shown by the current Brazilian government, they said.
For this reason, the ministry of foreign affairs should cancel the visit as soon as possible.
Bolsonaro threatened to tell the president of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), who is the son of Fernando Santa Cruz, how his father disappeared in the military period, adding that the president of the OAB would not want to know the truth.
Later, on a social media, Bolsonaro said that Fernando Santa Cruz was not killed by the military, but by his organisation, Ação Popular.
Bolsonaro's statements caused a wave of widespread indignation, shared by many who have defended and supported him on other occasions.
From the Left Bloc’s perspective, the Portuguese nationals and the government cannot remain indifferent to a president who, as the OAB notes, seems to ignore the foundations of the democratic rule of law, including the dignity of human beings and the right to respect the memory of the dead.
Like it or not Brazil's president is a head of state. Internationally left wing or liberal groups try to stop anyone whose politics are opposed to theirs and then they pontificate about democracy. Let the man visit.
By IanWatson from Algarve on 03 Aug 2019, 17:48
This article doesn't retract the true history. Bolsonaro is not against democracy at all and what he is talking is true. He was elected for 58 million people exactly for this reason. To bring the true and fight agaisnt a left regime that destroyed my country. Brazil will be among the 5 economies on the world soon. We Brazilian support Bolsonaro.
By Nestor from Other on 04 Aug 2019, 11:16
There is nothing new here. He demonstrated, many times (there are videos everywhere), that he was in favor of a Dictatorial Regime. He said that civil war was necessary to clean up Rio's of milicias, he himself supports (?!). His whole family and friends are now occupying a position somewhere within Government. Surely there must be someone more qualified in Brazil than his own family and friends.Crazy? That's what is normal now in Brazil.
I hope Portugal abides by this. He has nothing to say, nothing to add and whatever he says is embarrassing.
Poor Brazilians, I feel very ashamed for them.
By Valter Vilar from Lisbon on 04 Aug 2019, 16:53