Brazil: Bolsonaro Lawmaker Requests 'Deleftification Ministry'

Brazilian Federal Lawmaker Heitor Freire from the presidential ruling party, the Social Liberal Party (PSL), introduced a bill on Wednesday to create a Special Secretary of "Deleftification" for the Public Administration and the country.

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According to Brazilian media, this would mean persecution of employees of any Brazilian public administration organization or politicians associated with the left-wing or what the incumbent, far-right government deems "left-wing." However, other professionals may also be at risk when considering that last November, Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Ernesto Araujo accused "cultural Marxists" of creating climate change to asphyxiate Western economies and protome China’s growth.

Freire, a staunche supporter of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, said that if created, the new secretary would be in charge of carrying out "an ample control, inspection, identification, mapping, monitoring, with the consequent suggestion of exoneration by the decision of the President of the Republic, of all the agents of left."

The reason left-wingers should leave the public administration, Freire said, is "that (leftwingers) act (in a) hidden manner and that continues bringing direct and indirect damages for the sanity of this Nation (Brazil)."

According to the right-wing lawmaker, Bolsonaro's presidential victory, "was not enough to purge the left-wing agents infiltrated," which is why he is now proposing this law to pass on to the Brazilian Congress. He also volunteered to head said organization, stating that "this soldier puts himself at your disposal to undertake such a task."

For many analysts and journalists, this would mean a persecution policy similar to the "witch hunt" applied by Macarthysm in the United States in the 1950s'. According to President Bolsonaro, the country's armed forces, which led the country under a military dictatorship for over two decades, are the ultimate arbitrators of democracy.

According to the "Diario Causa Operaria" (Workers Cause Journal), if passed it will mean the approval of "a policy of espionage in order to repress leftist organizations and their sympathizers and militants who are in administrative positions of public office."

Leftist social movements are organizing to protest against these discriminatory measures applied by the Bolsonaro government and its allies. During the Carnival celebrations, which are massive in Brazil, the "Fora Bolsonaro" (Oust Bolsonaro) warcry was heard loudly throughout the country.