Bolsonaro’s partial victory in the “war of narratives”

BRAZIL POLITICS - Report 13 May 2020 by Murillo de Aragão and Cristiano Noronha

Amid rumors about the presence of allegedly “devastating content” against President Jair Bolsonaro in the video of the ministerial cabinet meeting on April 22, the three ministers, General Augusto Heleno (Institutional Security Office), General Luiz Eduardo Ramos (Government Secretariat) and General Braga Netto (Chief of Staff), reinforced the defense of the president in their testimony given yesterday, May 12, to the Federal Police (PF). As expected, the military ministers of the administration’s inner circle are supporting the president.

Despite the pressure from the press if the full video is released by the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Celso de Mello, in practice we will have a “war of narratives”. Moro began the war when he leaked to the media that he had proof of Bolsonaro’s crime. However, the Planalto narrative maintains that Jair Bolsonaro was concerned about the safety of his family.

Unlike the press, the political establishment is working to reduce the temperature of the crisis. On the other hand, the clash between the president and state governors will likely increase due to the worsening of the economic crisis.

In the clash of narratives with the press, Jair Bolsonaro obtained a victory in the judicial process concerning the release of his coronavirus tests. After the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo went to the STF to obtain access to the exam, the president today presented the test, which was negative. With the exam confirming what Bolsonaro has been saying since March – that he had tested negative for coronavirus – the press loses this battle, and the president wins a partial victory in the “war of narratives” that will undoubtedly have new chapters.

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