MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the storming of the Brazilian democratic institutions
17.1.2023 - (2023/2505(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure
Anna Cavazzini, Ana Miranda, Alviina Alametsä, Mounir Satouri, Rosa D'Amato, Hannah Neumann, Ignazio Corrao, Pierrette Herzberger‑Fofana, Ernest Urtasun, Claude Gruffat, Gwendoline Delbos‑Corfield, Kim Van Sparrentak, Michèle Rivasi, Jordi Solé, Grace O'Sullivan, Bas Eickhout, Francisco Guerreiro, Tineke Strik
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0058/2023
B9‑0059/2023
European Parliament resolution on the storming of the Brazilian democratic institutions
The European Parliament
– having regard to its previous resolutions,
– having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas on January 8, 2023, supporters of former Brazilian President Bolsonaro stormed and vandalised the country’s Congress, Supreme Court and Presidential Palace;
B. Whereas violence and threats to the democracy have increased in Brazil since the beginning of President Bolsonaro’s term in office; whereas Bolsonaro spread election fraud narratives;
C. Whereas attacks on democratic institutions by the far-right are a global phenomenon, such as the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021; whereas former Presidents Trump and Bolsonaro have been instrumental in the increase of this violence and the attacks;
D. Whereas social media platforms have played a fundamental role by amplifying aggressive rhetoric, violence, mobilisation and the spread of disinformation; whereas Twitter employees in Brazil in charge of moderating the platform’s content had mostly been fired;
1. Condemns the anti-democratic acts of violence, illegal occupation and depredation of Brasilia's democratic institutions by supporters of former Brazilian President Bolsonaro; laments that these events represent a serious and unprecedented attack on the rule of law and democracy in Brazil and seek to destabilise the newly elected Brazilian government;
2. Supports the democratically elected government of Brazil and the Brazilian democratic system; notes that there has been no evidence of electoral fraud in the last election; calls for an end to all violent attacks and for a peaceful transfer of power;
3. Notes with concern the failure of the authorities to prevent the attacks by identifying the instigators and financial backers beforehand; expresses concern about the acts and omissions of public officials, in particular those of the Governor of the Federal District and his allies, with regard to quickly ending the attacks;
4. Deplores the violation of the security and physical integrity of journalists who followed the events;
5. Calls upon Brazilian authorities to ensure a prompt, impartial, serious and effective investigation, in order to identify, charge, prosecute and hold accountable all those involved, including the instigators, organisers and financial backers, as well as the omissions of state institutions that failed to act to prevent these attacks;
6. Is concerned about the role that tech companies and social media platforms played in the events, especially through algorithms promoting hateful content and disinformation as well as the platforms' unwillingness to remove illegal content; calls on the competent authorities to investigate these anti-democratic dynamics and on legislators to take measures to combat disinformation;
7. Calls on the European External Action Service, the Member States and the EU Delegation to Brazil to continue prioritising the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to increase support for civil society organisations promoting democracy and fighting disinformation;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of the Federative Republic of Brazil.