Datafolha published yesterday (December 21) a detailed opinion poll on the coup actions that have been taking place in the country since Bolsonaro lost to Lula on October 30. According to the institute, 75% of respondents are against this type of demonstration, 21% in favor. Furthermore, 56% support that there should be some kind of punishment for those who call for a coup or military dictatorship, while 40% oppose any kind of punishment as it is a democratic right. The face-to-face survey polled 2,026 people in 126 communities between December 19 and 20. The margin of error is two percentage points above or below.
Some records are particularly interesting. Among those who voted for Bolsonaro, 50% say they oppose the actions, while among Lula voters this figure reaches 96%. Among those who voted blank or zero, 90% oppose the laws. Regarding punishment, only 29% of Bolsonaro voters support some kind of punishment, while this figure reaches 81% among Lula voters. Of those who voted blank or zero, 58% support legal prosecution.
The Datafolha map will of course be heavily influenced by the results of the second round. For example, in the Central-West and North regions, where Bolsonaro won, 29% of respondents support the coup demonstrations, while in the Northeast this support is only 14%. The same applies to the possibility of punishment. In the Northeast, 69% believe the coup plotters should be punished, compared to 45% in the Centre, West and North and 54% in the South.
Religion is also a factor that influences people’s opinions. Among Catholics 80% are against the deeds, among Evangelicals it is 65%. At the same time, 60% of Catholics defend some form of punishment for the putschists, while the percentage among Evangelicals is 45%.
78% of women reject coup acts, and 73% of men.
Finally, personal income is also a factor influencing opinion, as the poorest express more categorical opinions against the acts and in favor of punishing the coup plotters. Of those earning up to two minimum wages, 81% oppose the acts and 63% defend the punishment. Among those earning up to 10 minimum wages, 51% oppose the protests, while only 33% think punishment is necessary.
In other words, in general, although taking into account the different political, regional, religious and economic backgrounds, there is a solid societal majority against the acts promoted by the putschists and, in general, albeit to a lesser extent, there is also a majority Please punish them the responsible.
Brazil faces the opportunity, perhaps for the first time in history, to bring about true justice for those responsible for the people’s suffering. Bolsonaro and the putschists are aware of their crimes and openly express their fear of punishment. It is not surprising that they cling tooth and nail to positions with privileged forums and try all sorts of behind-the-scenes deals to avoid any kind of legal prosecution.
On the other hand, Lula will begin his third term with a surge of hope sweeping the country. Now is not the time to sweep historical rubbish under the rug. We have already made this mistake by granting amnesty to the murderers and torturers of the military dictatorship. The result is in sight: military and civilian putschists have once again spread their wings to try to impose a new dictatorship on the country. We cannot repeat this mistake. It is necessary to debolson the Brazilian state, investigate the organizers and financiers, arrest and prosecute the actors, dismantle the support networks and the spread of lies and conspiracy theories, expel the Bolsonaristas from all state structures. A genuine struggle for truth and justice is necessary. It is necessary to inflict a definitive defeat on Bolsonarismo, not just a temporary setback. And for this, the new government will, it seems, count on the support and sympathy of the majority of the population. There will not be a better opportunity than this. It’s time to punish the putschists.
* With information from the newspaper Folha de São Paulo.
Translation: Press Correspondence.
Source (of the translation): https://correspondenciadeprensa.com/?p=31683
Source (from the original): https://esquerdaonline.com.br/2022/12/22/e-hora-de-punir-os-golpistas/