The meatpacker Rivelli, from Minas Gerais, is being investigated for electoral harassment after allowing federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) to climb on a podium set up in the company’s courtyard in the city of Barbacena and campaign against Lula (PT). Eduardo is the son of Jair Bolsonaro (PL), the current president who is running for re-election.
At least one director of the company also spoke at the same rally, stating that President Bolsonaro is “managing to make the economy go forward” and that this would be beneficial for employees: the meatpacking plant would grow, and “we will have more opportunities”.
The scenes, on the 18th, were recorded by CNN Portugal, which was in Minas Gerais and reported having followed Eduardo’s “search” for votes “among the local citizens” around the state, the second largest electoral college in the country.
Eduardo himself announces the presence of CNN Portugal at the event, asking people to be careful with “eventual jokes”.
The report, made by journalists Pedro Bello Moraes and Nuno Quá, shows images of workers in safety clothes cutting up chickens.
Inside the factory, says the narrator, workers do their jobs “not knowing that a political action” is taking place on company grounds.
The director who spoke was identified by the Public Labor Prosecution Office (MPT) as Paulo Richel, administrative-financial director of the slaughterhouse.
The Public Labor Prosecution Office held a hearing with directors of the meatpacking plant on Tuesday (25), and prosecutors have already recommended that the company publish a statement, “within 24 hours”, in all of Rivelli’s WhatsApp groups, with the following content:
“Rivelli Alimentos S/A, in compliance with the recommendation of the Public Labor Prosecution Office, reiterates the right of its employees to freely choose their candidates in elections, regardless of political party or ideology”.
Translated by Cassy Dias
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