MPs can clear highways, including federal ones, decides Moraes

The Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Alexandre de Moraes decided this Tuesday (1st) that the military police can act in the clearance of blocked highways “regardless of where they occur”, including on federal highways.

“The military police of the states have full constitutional and legal attributions to act in the face of these illicit acts, regardless of where they occur, whether in public spaces and federal, state or municipal highways”, says the minister in the decision.

The PMs, he says, must adopt “the necessary and sufficient measures, at the discretion of the responsible authorities of the State Executive Powers, for the immediate clearing of all public roads that, illicitly, are with their traffic interrupted.”

The governors of the states and of the Federal District were summoned, in addition to the commanders-general of the PMs and attorneys-general of Justice of the state Public Ministry.

Moraes also determines that, after clearing the obstruction, the trucks used in the blockade are identified, so that a fine of R$100,000 per hour is imposed, in addition to imprisonment for flagrante delicto of people who are committing crimes against the democratic rule of law, as described in law of 2021.

This Monday (31), Moraes had already determined that the government should immediately adopt “all necessary and sufficient measures” to clear the highways occupied by Bolsonaristas in protest of the election results.

In case of non-compliance, it determines a fine and even removal and arrest in the act of the director general of the PRF (Federal Highway Police), Silvinei Vasques, for the crime of disobedience, in addition to a fine of R$ 100 thousand per hour from midnight. – Tuesday night.

According to the minister, there has been “omission and inertia” by the PRF in clearing the roads. Moraes had already determined that the Federal Highway Police and the Military Police identify any trucks used in the roadblocks and report them to the Justice, so that a fine of R$ 100,000 per hour is imposed on the owners.

Since the victory of President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), supporters of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), including truck drivers, have been blocking or crowding roads in states and the Federal District, according to the PRF. Protesters call for a coup.

Sought by the report after the decision, the PRF said that the director-general’s order is to clear all blockages as soon as possible, that there has never been a contrary determination and that the corporation is working to clear all federal highways by this Tuesday.

“At no time did we have the determination not to demobilize the demonstrations. From the beginning, we have been working tirelessly to clear all points with blockages on federal highways. And the order of our director general is for us to clear all points as soon as possible possible, immediately”, said the general coordinator of communication of the PRF, Cristiano Vasconcellos.

The request to the Supreme Court was made by the CNT (National Confederation of Transport). The confederation requested that the STF authorize the government to adopt the same measures against the 2018 truck drivers’ strike. At the time, the decision was taken after action by the Michel Temer government (MDB).