Former president participates in an Australian journalist’s podcast on X to talk about what he considers to be censorship in the country
Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) stated this Saturday (May 4, 2024) that the objective of the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and STF (Supreme Federal Court) minister Alexandre de Moraes is “destroy the right in Brazil”. Bolsonaro did not name the judge by name and referred to him as “a judge who presides over the [TSE] Superior Electoral Court”.
Bolsonaro participated in Space – a live podcast on X (formerly Twitter) – by the Australian journalist Mario Nawfal. During his participation, the former president stated that there is persecution by the federal government and the Judiciary against right-wing politicians and profiles.
In Bolsonaro’s view, the traditional press is an ally of the left, while social media is the only way for the right to combat the narratives of its opponents. According to the former president, the Judiciary targets digital platforms just to silence right-wing voices.
Bolsonaro also declared that he awaits the presentation of evidence from the owner of X, Elon Musk, that Moraes arbitrarily censors right-wing profiles on the social network. For the former head of the Executive, Brazil needs external support to expose the “authoritarian abuses” practiced in the country.
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FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Bolsonaro was invited to participate in Nawfal’s program to discuss “the challenges of freedom of expression in Brazil”. There was an expectation that Elon Musk, owner of X, would participate in the conversation, but the South African billionaire did not attend.
The former president participated in Space de Manaus. In his first speech, Bolsonaro thanked Elon Musk for the Starlink technology that was enabling him to participate in the program in the Amazon region.
Bolsonaro had technical difficulties participating in the podcast on the platform. According to the Australian journalist, the former president’s official profile was unable to access Space and was only able to participate in the program through the profile of federal deputy Captain Alberto Neto (PL-AM).
The presenter also stated that several Brazilians reported difficulties in listening to the program and needed to use a VPN (virtual private network, or virtual private network, in free translation) to listen to Space.
After the conversation with Bolsonaro, Nawfal invited President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to participate in the program to listen “your side of the story”.
Bolsonaro participated in Space through the profile of federal deputy Captain Alberto Neto (PL-AM).
The program’s peak time was 10:15 pm when 39,200 X profiles were listening to Space. Bolsonaro entered the program at 10:25 pm. Before the former president entered, other allies and congressmen spoke with Nawfal. Read the list of participants below:
