UN: Emphasis should be placed on strengthening democracy in Brazil after Jamil Chad Bolsonaro 12/09/2022 06:57

Brazilians and their institutions will have to renew their social pact after four years of purge promoted by Jair Bolsonaro. The warning came from Austrian Volker Türk, the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who replaced Chilean Michelle Bachelet. According to him, the focus now should be on strengthening the country’s democratic institutions, getting involved in the formulation of public policy and ensuring public participation.

At a press conference in Geneva on the eve of the International Human Rights Day, Turk made it clear that the rebuilding of democracy in Brazil should be the emphasis of the new government.

Without naming the president who was defeated at the ballot box, “The situation is such that it is clear that there is a call for renewal of the social contract between individuals and institutions that should serve the people.”

“What we’re seeing in this situation is a strong emphasis on restoring support for democratic institutions and increasing public policies that increase trust, participation, inclusion, and I think that’s very important in the Brazilian context,” he said.

“Looking at what has happened in recent years in terms of structural problems such as inequality, the protection of indigenous peoples, the safety of journalists, social and political participation, I can say that if we are to take a break, it is a strong emphasis on the renewal of the social contract and human rights”.

According to him, human rights should guide this renewal. “At the end of the day, human rights decide how a social contract should be renewed, and this is the new government’s biggest challenge,” said the UN’s highest human rights representative.

History of infighting with Bolsonaro

In recent years, the relationship between the UN and Bolsonaro has proven to be problematic. In a move rarely seen in Brazil, the UN demanded the independence of national institutions in an election year in the middle of the year, calling for a “democratic” and “non-interference” process.

Criticisms of Bolsonaro’s government led Itamaraty to protest Bachelet and imply that she would not accept UN interference in the election debate.

However, Bachelet included Brazil in her report on the circumstances that worried the party and increased the tone of demand. “You have elections in October. I want elections from all over the world to be fair, transparent and people can participate freely,” he said. “This will be a very important democratic moment and no party should interfere in order to ensure the democratic process.”

Regarding Brazil’s situation, he did not spare criticism from various aspects in his speech. “I am concerned about threats to environmental human rights defenders and indigenous peoples in Brazil, including exposure to pollution from illegal gold mining,” the Chilean said.

He also criticized the situation of racism and police violence, which has sparked a crisis between the Jair Bolsonaro government and the international presence. Three years ago, the president opposed the Chilean woman by praising the dictator Augusto Pinochet. Bachelet’s father was killed when the general took power, and the UN representative himself was tortured.

However, he continued his critique of the human rights situation in Brazil and is now vigilant about the electoral situation. “Recent police brutality and structural racism, and attacks on MPs and candidates, particularly African descent, women and LGBTI+ people ahead of the October general elections, are worrying,” he said.

Although Bachelet did not mention Jair Bolsonaro’s name and his attacks on the Judiciary and electoral bodies in the text, in a rare move, he made an accusation against the institutions. “I urge the authorities to ensure that fundamental rights and independent institutions are respected,” Bachelet added.