Right-wing lawmakers and senators occupied the rostrums in both chambers of the Brazilian Congress in protest against the house arrest imposed on former President Jair Bolsonaro, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
"We will not leave until the presidents of both chambers meet to resolve the issue of national sovereignty," said Sostenis Cavalcante, leader of the parliamentary group of Bolsonaro's far-right Liberal Party.
On Monday, the former president was placed under house arrest by order of Supreme Court Judge Alishandri de Morais for violating restrictions imposed by the court in a case of plotting a coup in 2022 d.
The blockade, organized by his supporters in Congress, began late Tuesday and continued yesterday, with lawmakers taking turns blocking the seats usually reserved for parliamentary leaders. Some of them had their mouths taped shut as a symbolic indictment of the opposition.
The politicians are calling for an impeachment vote against Moraes, as well as an amnesty for those involved in the storming of government buildings in January 2023. Until that happens, they plan to block all votes in Congress.
After Bolsonaro was defeated in Brazil's 2022 elections by his leftist rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his supporters, who refused to accept Lula's victory, stormed Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace in capital Brasilia, causing significant damage. Bolsonaro has denied all charges of attempted coup.
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta, canceled the plenary session on Tuesday and announced a meeting of the leaders of the parliamentary groups on Wednesday. "Congress must be a bridge for dialogue," he wrote on the "Ex" platform. Senate President Davi Alcolumbre also criticized the protest, saying the actions were contrary to democratic principles.