Personalities publish a letter in defense of democracy and show concern about the advance of the ultra-right

Civil society figures released this Friday (9) an open letter in defense of the Democratic Rule of Law and the Constitution, in the context of the electoral dispute between Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

The document was articulated by former Minister of Justice Miguel Reale Jr. and prosecutor Roberto Livianu, president of the Instituto Não Aceito Corrupção.

Also signed are lawyer Antônio Claudio Mariz de Oliveira, former president of TV Cultura José Roberto Maluf, ambassador Rubens Barbosa, writer Ignácio de Loyola Brandão, economist Eduardo Gianetti, historian Lilia Schwarcz, singer Tíê and guitarist Andreas Kisser, from the band Sepultura, among others.

The letter expresses concern about the advance of the right in the first round. "The results promoted little political renewal, maintained the underrepresentation of women, black people, LGBTQIA+ groups and native peoples, bringing some ultra-rightist cadres to power, making the conservative wing the expressive majority group", he states.

There is reference to some elected parliamentarians, such as federal deputy Julia Zanatta (PL-SC), who was filmed using a whip on the streets, and state deputy Eduarda Campopiano (PL-SP), who said that indigenous people were cannibals.

"In a democracy, we consider it essential to remember that the Constitution must be respected and protected, and can never be degraded or its amendment process transformed into a free-for-all", states the document.

The signatories ask that in the second round, voters take into account the "preservation of human dignity, respect for constitutional guarantees and the Democratic Rule of Law, making it unacceptable to establish a new order that leads our country towards authoritarianism".

"When voting, they must observe as their first and fundamental concern the essential preservation of the democratic regime and the maintenance of constitutional balance based on checks and balances", concludes the document.