We’re covering the impact of Jair Bolsonaro’s endorsement of a putschist demonstration in Brazilian politics. The plan to reopen the São Paulo economy. And a request to make Mr. Bolsonaro a decorative president.
Groundhog Day in Brazilian politics
As we had predicted in yesterday’s Weekly Report, President Jair Bolsonaro followed an anti-democratic gesture — speaking at an anti-social isolation rally, which also supported a military coup and the shutdown of Congress and the Supreme Court — with a seemingly moderated speech the following day. In front of the presidential palace, he said “democracy” and “liberty” are sacred values — until losing humility by claiming: “I am the Constitution.”
- While Mr. Bolsonaro’s attempt to sound like a democrat actually made him paraphrase French King Louis XIV — one of the biggest symbols of absolutist rule, who was quoted as saying “I am the state” — it seems more likely to have been a case of poor phrasing. Mr. Bolsonaro was trying to say that nobody respects the Constitution as much as he does.
No change. Since Sunday, politicians and members of the Justice system issued a slew of near-identical statements, condemning Mr. Bolsonaro’s behavior, but the strategy of isolating the president without...