The Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite (PSD), announced on Monday 24 that he approves the decree of preventive detention of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). According to him, the attempt to burn the electronic ankle bracelet justifies the action taken by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, which was approved by the first panel of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
– Technically and legally, it appears that an attempt to violate an ankle bracelet would justify arrest. Now, from the institutional political point of view of the country, I cannot help but feel sorry again that we are living in a moment like this, as a result of this extreme tension and polarization – said the governor, who is participating in the Grupo Voto event, in São Paulo.
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Leite sought to position himself as an alternative to the polarization between Lula (PT) and Jair Bolsonaro (PL), a strategy he has adopted since his migration to the Social Democratic Party. He faces internal competition from Ratinho Junior, governor of Paraná state, to be a presidential candidate. Ratinho, as well as the governor of São Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas (Republicans), are spreading a rhetoric in line with Bolsonarianism.
– This most extreme right, led by Bolsonaro, has never operated with the logic of building this lighter and more prosperous country for those who pledge to do so. He simply worked to try to destroy his opponent. I hope that, starting in the coming months, we will be able to embark on a path that will lead us to a candidacy that will allow us to build a different country.
However, he did not rule out supporting Tarcicio or Ratinho based on political statements, and said he considered it normal to disagree with others regarding Bolsonaro’s situation. The head of the PSD, Gilberto Katsav, is enthusiastic about the nomination of Tarcisio, who is the government’s secretary of state.