People taking the streets against Bill 1904/2024, which has become known in Brazil as the 'Rape Bill' and 'Child Pregnancy Bill,' sent an important message not only to the evangelical caucus – the group that authored the text – but also to its allied base and to the government itself.
The day after the text was approved as a matter of urgency, demonstrators flooded the streets of several Brazilian cities. The outrage was also intense on social media platforms.
The bill provides for 20 years of incarceration for people who have abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy – the same sentence applied to homicide cases. The punishment ranges from 6 to 20 years in prison, and the intention is to apply it even to cases provided for by law, such as pregnancy resulting from rape, fetuses with anencephaly and situations in which the mother's life is at risk.
Speaking on the Três por Quatro podcast, federal deputy Sâmia Bomfim (Socialism and Liberty Party) said that not even the progressive field expected such a consistent and effective reaction from the population.
"Those who proposed the bill and [the president of the Chamber of Deputies] Arthur Lira (Progressive Party) – who maneuvered to approve the agenda as a matter of urgency in less than 30 seconds and didn't even let us manifest against the bill – didn't expect society to react the way it is reacting. Many of us also thought they were going to get away with it," Sâmia said.
She was the guest on the latest episode of Três por Quatro, produced by Brasil de Fato. The podcast talks about the influence and strategies of the evangelical caucus in the National Congress.
Hosted by journalists Nara Lacerda and Igor Carvalho, the episode features comments from João Pedro Stedile, leader of the Landless Rural Workers' Movement (MST, in Portuguese). According to him, even the right wing has realized that the streets can dictate the agendas to be discussed in Congress.
"I hope the government thinks carefully and understands this message [from the streets]. It needs to get out of this trap in which any possibility of change depends on Congress. That's not true. The government has to help create an atmosphere of popular participation and mobilization, including if it wants to change the economic agenda," said Stedile.
In recent years, the evangelical caucus has established itself as one of the most influential groups in the Brazilian parliament. It works to push through an agenda based on conservative ideas. Since June 12, this strategy has been translated into the 'Rape Bill.'
The plenary of the Chamber of Deputies approved the text on June 12, in a vote led by Arthur Lira. He put the matter on the agenda without prior warning, in a symbolic vote and without each parliamentarian's vote being recorded on the electronic panel. All this process lasted less than a minute.
"I'd like to point to Arthur Lira himself as an important element, because he always presents himself as just an administrator of interests, someone who has a very democratic role in taking an issue forward. He was negotiating this bill as part of the disputes over the succession to the board of directors," warns Sâmia Bomfim.
According to Bomfim, it's no coincidence that parliamentarians who support Bolsonaro have been able to push through so many bills in the Chamber of Deputies during this term. "He wants these votes to guarantee his name on the board. He thought it could be a simple matter to sell a right that concerns a deep pain of women and kids, such as the issue of sexual violence."
Sâmia pointed out that 70% of rape victims in Brazil are minors. More than 60% are under the age of 14. A third of legal abortions carried out in the country occur after three months of gestation.
Asked if the successive attacks on human rights could be used by conservatives to secure electoral support in this year's elections, João Pedro Stédile said it will be important, but it will be money to dictate the course of the campaigns.
"I don't think (conservative agendas) are decisive. They [supporters of conservative ideas] are going to campaign for city councilor and mayor mainly using money schemes. Parliamentary amendments are a corruption factory. That's what we're seeing in the countryside: a money machine buying electoral canvassers and leaders. More than specific topics, I think the coming elections will be marked by the money machine," said the MST leader.
Every Friday morning, new episodes of Três por Quatro are released, focusing on the main events and the political situation in the country and the world.
Edited by: Thalita Pires
