Political violence and presidential election in Brazil

Early day motion 285, tabled 12 July 2022 by Richard Burgon (Labour). Signed by 43 members.

This House expresses its deep concerns about reports of political violence against representatives of the Workers’ Party in Brazil ahead of this October’s Presidential election; notes that the far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his cabinet ministers, nearly half of whom are military generals, have made repeated threats against the integrity of this year's upcoming elections; further notes that these have worsened as former President and Workers’ Party leader Lula da Silva has opened up significant poll leads; is concerned that threats, intimidation and hate speech from the President and his supporters create a context in which acts of political violence are more likely; condemns the 9 July killing at a birthday party of Marcelo Arruda, a Workers’ Party official in the city of Foz do Iguaçu, by a Bolsonaro supporter who chanted we are Bolsonaro here; notes that Bolsonaro’s supporters have also attacked pro-Lula rallies including with a home-made bomb and the use of drones to drop faeces onto crowds; and calls on the British Government to raise concerns with the Brazilian government about these reports of violence and intimidation and to call for the coming elections to be free and fair.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Scottish National Party 12, Independent 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Labour/Co-operative 2, Alba 1, Green 1, Liberal Democrat 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.