In an interview with the Estadão newspaper, Moro argued that he was not opposed to the head of state in order not to open a new conflict between them, at the time when he was trying to avoid the change in command of the Federal Police, which, in the ex-minister’s view, was of an attempt at Bolsonaro’s political interference in that body.
The standard in question, signed on April 23, raised from 200 to 600 the number of projectiles allowed annually for each weapon registration.
“The ordinance prepared at the Ministry of Defense was signed because of pressure from the President of the Republic and at that moment I could not open another flank of conflict with the head of state,” Moro told Estadão.
The newspaper also revealed that, by order of Jair Bolsonaro, the Army used the signature of an official already exonerated in the publication of the ordinance in question.
The day before the decree was published, at a ministerial meeting held on April 22, Bolsonaro stated that he wanted to arm the population to prevent the establishment of a dictatorship in Brazil, determining Sergio Moro, then Minister of Justice, and Fernando Azevedo, defense minister, to sign the decree.
“How easy it is to impose a dictatorship in Brazil, how easy it is. The people are inside the house. That is why I want, Minister of Justice and Minister of Defense, that the people arm themselves, ”said Bolsonaro, addressing two of his ministers, in a video released on Friday by the Supreme Tribal Federal.
“I ask Fernando [Azevedo e Silva, ministro da Defesa] and Moro [Sergio Moro, ex-ministro da Justiça], please sign this ordinance today [22 de abril] that I want to give (…) a message [a governadores e prefeitos]. Why am I arming the people? Because I don’t want a dictatorship! You can’t hold on any longer, “added the head of state.
In the video, the president also asked his ministers to “open up the arms issue”.
“I want the entire armed world! That the armed people will never be enslaved. And that each one does, plays its part. Expose yourself,” reinforced Bolsonaro.
In Brazil, 379,471 weapons are in the hands of the population, according to data from the Federal Police, cited by Estadão.
In the video there are also profanities and insults by Bolsonaro to ministers and the threat of “generalized” dismissal by the President, to whom he did not adopt the defense of matters defended by the Government.
The ministerial meeting in question is pointed out by ex-minister Sergio Moro as evidence about the alleged interference of the President, Jair Bolsonaro, in the police.
The meeting of ministers took place on April 22, two days before Moro’s resignation, when he denounced “unacceptable pressures” by Bolsonaro in relation to the Federal Police, an autonomous body subordinated to the Judiciary, although its director is appointed by the President of the Republic.
According to the former minister, Bolsonaro allegedly demanded the replacement of the Federal Police superintendent in Rio de Janeiro at that meeting, in order to avoid an investigation of family members and allies.
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