US Congresswoman Takes Down Fantasist Republican Committee Hearing on Brazilian Democracy

Post date May 9, 2024 Rep. Susan WildRanking Member, Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International OrganizationsMay 7, 2024, Hearing: “Brazil: A Crisis of Democracy, Freedom, and Rule of Law?”

Opening Statement

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

With all due respect to everyone involved in this hearing, I’d like to say at the outset that this is not the hearing on Brazil that I believe we should be having today.

The hearing I believe we should be having is one focused on the 200th anniversary—this year—of the bilateral relationship between the United States and Brazil, the two largest democracies in the Western Hemisphere. 

The hearing I believe we should be having is one focused on the many areas of cooperation between our two countries—on labor and workers’ rights; climate and protecting the Amazon; combating hunger, poverty, and violence; and expanding sustainable and broad-based economic growth, stability, security, and peace throughout the hemisphere. Above all, we should be working to advance our critical partnership with Brazil in a spirit of mutual respect. Unfortunately, the framing of this hearing—which presents a distorted view of Brazilian democracy and provides a platform to those seeking to undermine it—does the opposite of that. Rather than strengthening our relationship, a hearing like this serves only to damage and undermine it.

Brazil is a strong and vibrant democracy—with a robust civil society and media, a multitude of political parties representing a huge political spectrum, and an electoral system that is rightly considered to be one of the most secure and rapid in the world. Like all democracies, including right here in the United States, there are healthy debates to be had about aspects of the country’s institutions. But I want to be clear: Internal politics and debates on constitutional and legal issues should be decided

Democracies are different, each informed

Former President Jair Bolsonaro’s conduct in office—his praise for the military dictatorship, his calls for violence against his political opponents, his refusal to acknowledge his 2022 election loss, his attempt to engineer a coup, and his incitement of the January 8 attacks—triggered laws in place designed to serve as a check on executive power resulting from the coup in 1964.  

Brazilian law enforcement and judiciary have refused to stand

The title of today’s hearing is “Brazil: A Crisis of Democracy, Freedom, & Rule of Law?” Mr. Chairman, respectfully, I would ask: Where was the hearing about Brazilian democracy when we learned about then-President Bolsonaro’s efforts to foment a military coup? Where was the hearing after supporters of former President Bolsonaro led a coordinated attempt to overthrow the country’s democracy on January 8th, 2023?

This brings us to January 8th, and the parallels between the January 6th and January 8th attacks. Put simply, the January 8th attack—conducted in the manner it was—was clearly inspired

I have with me today a copy of the report issued

As it happens, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the 1964 coup that led to Brazil’s military dictatorship. Part of democracy means being honest about the instances in which we fall short of the ideals that we proclaim. The U.S. Government’s involvement in and support for the 1964 coup was such a moment in our history. 

In this hearing, let us be cognizant of the history between our countries. Let us approach our vital relationship with Brazil as a partnership of equals—not one in which the United States seeks to dictate events or interfere with Brazilian democracy. Let us learn from the consequences of past actions and remember that the role of the United States should not be to interfere in internal judicial proceedings or worse, destabilize democratically-elected leaders who disagree with aspects of U.S. policy, but rather to build durable alliances around the world—understanding that we will have differences even with close partners and allies.

Brazil’s 2022 elections were free and fair. The United States Government—alongside the international community—recognized the results immediately. In response to the attempts to overturn the election results, Brazil’s institutions prevailed. Democracy prevailed. The Brazilian people prevailed.

This is the vision I intend to defend in today’s hearing, and beyond. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.