Brazil: A call for solidarity against the expulsion of PSOL MP Glauber Braga from Congress

Federal Deputy Glauber Braga, a prominent member of Brazil’s leftist party PSOL (Socialism and Liberty Party), is facing an unprecedented political attack. His mandate is under threat not due to any ethical or moral transgression, but because of his unwavering stance against corruption, authoritarianism, and the abuse of state resources. Glauber went on a hunger strike in the Brazilian Congress, determined to resist the assault on democracy and truth.

Why is Glauber being targeted?

Glauber’s combative political stance and ethical clarity have long made him a thorn in the side of Brazil’s conservative establishment. His most consequential act — and the real reason behind the current attempt to strip him of his seat — has been his vocal denunciation of the Presupuesto Secreto (“Secret Budget”). This corrupt scheme allowed parliamentary allies of former right-wing Speaker of the House Arthur Lira to distribute billions in public funds without transparency or accountability. In 2025 alone, over R$50 billion (approximately €9 billion) were allocated through this shadowy mechanism. From the congressional floor to the Supreme Federal Court and the media, Glauber persistently exposed this rot at the heart of Brazilian democracy. This is what has made him a target.

His record speaks for itself. During the impeachment of former President Dilma Rousseff, Glauber was among the first to denounce it as a coup, calling Eduardo Cunha — the corrupt Speaker leading the charge — a “gangster.” He fiercely opposed the judicial persecution of current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, calling judge Sergio Moro what many now agree he was: a corrupt judge. In defending Petrobras against privatisation, he dared to ask Lira if he felt no shame in dismantling one of Brazil’s most strategic state enterprises.

Glauber is not backing down. While on hunger strike on the floor of Congress, Glauber declared:

“I am on hunger strike following the Ethics Committee’s recommendation for my dismissal. Some may say I want attention. Yes — I want attention on what is happening here. This attempt to remove me is directly linked to my denunciations of the Secret Budget, orchestrated by Arthur Lira, who bought a R$10 million (€1.8 million) house far beyond his declared income. Am I to remain silent while billions are manipulated? Everyone in this Chamber knows I’m being persecuted. I could go home and accept this — but I won’t. Today they silence my voice. Tomorrow, they’ll silence others. Lira has power and money, but he cannot buy what’s in my head.”

The real “crime” — defending his mother’s honour

What is the alleged reason behind the Ethics Committee’s action? On April 16, 2024, a far-right provocateur entered the Chamber with the clear aim of harassing Glauber. He hurled insults not only at Glauber but his mother, who was gravely ill with Alzheimer’s and passed away shortly thereafter. In response, Glauber defended his mother’s honour and expelled the agitator from the premises. This is what the Committee deemed worthy of the ultimate penalty: removal from office. Any of us would have done the same.

The Ethics Committee’s process is riddled with inconsistencies and double standards. The rapporteur, Paulo Magalhães — a deputy who once physically assaulted a journalist inside the Chamber — has no moral standing to judge this case. His report is deeply flawed, biased in favour of Lira (who should not even be the subject of the Committee’s deliberation), and misrepresents the testimony of witness Deputy Alberto Fraga. Fraga himself declared that he would have acted even more firmly in Glauber’s position and stated unequivocally that Glauber should not be removed.

Magalhães has received millions of reais from the Secret Budget — a direct conflict of interest. In short: the report calling for Glauber’s removal was bought and paid for.

Impunity for the far right, maximum punishment for the left

The Ethics Committee’s hypocrisy is staggering. Consider these recent cases:

• Chiquinho Brazão, accused of orchestrating the assassination of Marielle Franco, was arrested by federal police. Months later, no full vote on his dismissal has taken place. He remains under house arrest, still drawing a salary.
• Delegado Da Cunha, caught violently assaulting his former partner, received only a reprimand — which was never even read aloud in Congress.
• Carla Zambelli, who pursued a journalist with a firearm during the 2022 elections, has never faced sanctions from the Committee, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling against her.
• Daniel Silveira, jailed for promoting anti-democratic acts and glorifying the AI-5 dictatorship decree*, was only removed from Congress thanks to the Supreme Court — not the Ethics Committee.

Compared to these grave offences, Glauber’s case is not only minor — it is just. Yet he is the one facing expulsion.

Broad and historic defence of Glauber

What is remarkable — and inspiring — is the breadth and unity of the movement defending Glauber. In fact, this is the most unified mobilisation of the Brazilian left in recent times. It includes not only all wings of Glauber’s own party, PSOL — which rarely acts in full cohesion — but also sectors even further to the left, such as the PSTU (United Socialist Workers' Party) as well as elements within Lula’s own PT (Workers' Party) government. This convergence across such a diverse political spectrum is nearly unprecedented.

Ministers, prominent PT figures such as party president Gleisi Hoffmann, and a wide array of social movements have publicly shown their solidarity. Glauber has received visits of support while holding his hunger strike on the floor of Congress. Minister of Agrarian Development Paulo Teixeira personally visited him in a powerful gesture of support.

Despite the scale and depth of this support, the threat remains real. The right-wing bloc maintains a majority in the Chamber of Deputies and is aggressively pushing for the revocation of Glauber’s mandate. Many of the same political forces that orchestrated the 2016 impeachment of Dilma are now leading this campaign. Worryingly, Lula himself has so far remained silent.

Glauber is being persecuted not because of any wrongdoing, but because he speaks truth to power. His removal would set a dangerous precedent — not just in Brazil, but for the global struggle against authoritarianism and the silencing of the left. That is why international pressure is so important. Letus not allow them to silence one of the Brazilian left’s most courageous voices. 

Glauber must stay.