Two of Brazil's former presidents, a chief justice and heads of both chambers of Congress on Tuesday repudiated the country's economy minister for saying the government might take draconian steps if leftist opponents stirred up protests such as those in Chile.
Speaking in Washington on Monday about turmoil in neighboring countries, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes told reporters not to be surprised if somebody called for an AI-5, a measure decreed by the 1964-1985 military dictatorship to close Congress and suppress dissent.
His remarks come weeks after the release from prison of leftist ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, setting the stage for political confrontation with right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. Lula has vowed to unite the left behind his Workers Party to win the 2022 elections.