Lula's treason comments flip script on free speech debate between PT and Bolsonaro supporters

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's recent remarks about treason have ignited a political firestorm, causing a reversal of roles between his Workers' Party (PT) and supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro regarding freedom of expression.

During a political event in Catalão, Goiás, Lula lamented a proposed 25% tariff on Brazilian imports by the U.S. government. He linked this measure to a recent visit by Flávio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro's son, to the White House. Lula accused the Bolsonaro sons of acting against national interests and questioned what fate awaited them and their allies. He invoked the historical punishment of hanging for Joaquim Silvério dos Reis, who betrayed Tiradentes during the Inconfidência Mineira, asking, "What do traitors to the homeland deserve, who go to ask for the intervention of a country in our country? Think, think, meditate."

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Are traitors. For less than that, Joaquim Silvério dos Reis, who denounced Tiradentes, was hanged. What do traitors to the homeland deserve, who go to ask for the intervention of a country in our country? Think, think, meditate.

Lula's campaign has since acknowledged he misspoke, confusing the historical figure who was hanged (Tiradentes) with the informant (dos Reis). However, Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign has seized on the statement, filing a complaint with the Supreme Federal Court (STF) accusing Lula of threat and incitement to crime. Bolsonaro suggested Lula's words could be a coded message to criminal factions to assassinate him, stating, "I hope it's not true. As soon as I acted against PCC and CV, he [Lula] issues a kind of dog whistle for the factions to execute me. I pray to God that this was not the intention, because if it was, he should be in prison."

This situation echoes the 2018 election campaign when Jair Bolsonaro, then a presidential candidate, threatened to "shoot all the PT scum" in Acre and told them to go to Venezuela. The PT at the time filed a criminal complaint with the STF for electoral defamation and incitement, which was suspended after Bolsonaro took office. The current legal actions highlight the deep political polarization in Brazil and the weaponization of rhetoric by opposing factions.

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I hope it's not true. As soon as I acted against PCC and CV, he [Lula] issues a kind of dog whistle for the factions to execute me. I pray to God that this was not the intention, because if it was, he should be in prison.