Federal prosecutors see Aras doing Bolsonaro's bidding
Even though Federal Prosecutor-General (PGR) Augusto Aras agreed with the Federal Police (PF) on Tuesday about the need of taking the deposition of President Jair Bolsonaro in the probe into alleged meddling in the PF, the head of the Federal Prosecution Service (MPF) still is object of criticism by his peers, who accuse him of failing to protect democracy and acting subserviently to the president, say eight federal prosecutors who declined to be named.
The deposition of Mr. Bolsonaro in the probe, started after former Justice Minister Sergio Moro said the president interfered in the PF, depends on Justice Celso de Mello, who is handling the case at the Federal Supreme Court.
The MPF sources believe Mr. Aras has yet to show with actions he is committed to defending democratic values the president challenges daily. The prosecutor-general's agreement with the PF to hear Mr. Bolsonaro in the investigation is seen as part of a move Mr. Aras initiated over the last few days, which includes interviews, to show independence and decouple his image from that of the president.
Assistant prosecutors interviewed by Valor say that as democracy is under attack from Mr. Bolsonaro and his followers, it would be natural for the MPF chief to "close ranks" with the heads of the Federal Supreme Court, Chamber of Deputies and Senate in defense of the democratic rule of law.
Cláudio Fontelles, who was PGR between 2003 and 2005, say Mr. Aras should "act according to the functional independence his job requires." He believes the fact that Mr. Bolsonaro is inciting protesters who defy social distancing rules to call for shutting down Congress and the Supreme Court requires a reaction from the prosecutor-general.
"He [Bolsonaro] shows support for these groups every Sunday, now on a horse and by helicopter, groups that call for a rupture from the democratic rule of law. Aras should also investigate the president's repeated conduct, in light of article 23, subsection 1, of the National Security Law, which talks clearly of ?inciting the subversion of public order,'" Mr. Fontelles says.
"My God, if you, the top leader, participates, smiles, applauds, signals broad support for people who are calling for closing the Supreme Court, Congress, and individually attack figures who represent these branches, you have to be investigated for this conduct," Mr. Fontelles says. He assesses Mr. Aras's performance toward the president's actions as "extremely timid."
"Aras wants a seat...
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