Supreme Court suspends mayor who incited anti-democratic protests

The Supreme Court suspended Carlos Alberto Capeletti, the mayor of Tapurah — a 14,000-people town in the center-western state of Mato Grosso — from his office for his actions inciting supporters of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro to stage anti-democratic rallies.

The suspension will last 60 days. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who signed the order, also slapped a BRL 100,000 (USD 19,150) fine on 177 truck owners who joined protests in Mato Grosso state capital Cuiabá. Most of them already had assets frozen for lending their vehicles to putschist demonstrators, as well as providing them with food and infrastructure. The trucks will be confiscated.

In a video posted on social media, Mayor Capeletti had urged supporters to head to the capital Brasília for a “final battle” on November 15, Brazil’s Republic Day. “If the Army does not take action by then, we will carry out our own Proclamation of the Republic,” he said.

The Supreme Court could be using this case to set a precedent for federal politicians who continue to voice conspiracy theories about Brazil’s electoral system. 

They claim the system can be rigged but offer no evidence to support their claims. Stoking these unfounded claims, President Bolsonaro’s campaign presented a petition to nullify tens of millions of votes cast during the October 30 runoff.

As The Brazilian Report showed this week, far-right lawmakers have used the Senate to incite an insurrection-like movement for December 12, the day President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be certified by election officials.

A poll by Quaest says 61 percent of Brazilians disapprove of Mr. Bolsonaro’s position questioning the result of the presidential elections.

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