Antagonism between ruralistas (rural caucus) and environmentalists crosses the discussion related to the MST’s CPI (Investigation Committee on the Landless Workers Movement), which is led by opposition to the government

Analysis by: FGV ECMI  

 

• On Twitter, the group who criticizes the MST accounted for more than 55% of profiles and 53% of interactions. Congresspeople directly involved in the CPI and hyper-partisan vehicles were prominent in the debate;
• The participation of Ricardo Salles as the Commission's rapporteur was one of the most criticized points by the group in favor of the MST, which pointed to an alleged bias in favor of the ‘ruralistas;’
• Excerpts of direct clashes between CPI members were the most prominent publications on Instagram and YouTube. On Facebook, the pro-MST group had a higher number of posts, but less reach than government opponents.

 

A dispute between environmentalists and ruralistas over narratives marked the debate on the MST's CPI over the 40 days that have elapsed since its installation. With a speech that classifies the social movement as a “terrorist group from the countryside,” the opposition to the government took center stage on Twitter, with more than 50% of the profiles and interactions. On the other hand, progressive groups stood out with accusations of alleged shady relations between members of the ruralista caucus and agribusiness entrepreneurs. This is what the survey by FGV's School of Communication, Media, and Information shows, it analyzed around 300,000 posts and messages on the subject on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Telegram between May 17 and June 26.

In addition to Twitter, opposition to the government had high adherence on YouTube and Telegram. On Facebook, in turn, the debate tended to be more balanced between the political fields, while on Instagram groups favorable to the MST had greater reach by highlighting excerpts from discussions during the CPI, with the notorious protagonism of congressperson Sâmia Bomfim (PSOL-SP). On Telegram, anti-communist speeches and sensationalist messages against the MST made up the set of posts with the greatest circulation on the platform, with emphasis on the denunciation of supposed “communist indoctrination camps” that would be maintained by the social movement.

 

General Discussion

 

Evolution of the debate related to the MST's CPI on Twitter 

Period: from May 17 to June 26

 

 

Source: Twitter | Elaboration: FGV School of Communication, Media, and Information 

 

• In the 40 days since its installation on May 17, the MST's CPI mobilized around 444,000 mentions on the platform. The highest peak of the debate occurred in the context of the beginning of the Committee's work, on May 23, and is followed by decreasing highs that coincide with the dates of the meetings held so far, on May 29, 30 and 31, in addition to June 13, 14th, 20 and 21;
• In these terms, the peak of mentions between the 23 and 24 highlights excerpts from the speeches of opposition congresspeople. The clash between deputy Sâmia Bomfim (PSOL-SP) and the chairperson of the Committee, Tenente Coronel (Lieutenant Colonel) Zucco (Republicanos-RS), also had repercussions on the platform, especially among progressives critical of the existence of the CPI and its “Bolsonarist” composition. They negatively highlight the interruption of the congressperson’s — a woman — microphone, which led to a request for an investigation into gender-based political violence;
• Similar clippings justify the other spikes in mentions. It can be highlighted the clash between Sâmia Bomfim and the governor of Goiás, Ronaldo Caiado (UNIÃO), in the meetings in the end of May, and the participation of Professor José Geraldo de Sousa, from UNB, in a meeting in mid-June, with emphasis on his response to congressperson Caroline De Toni (PL-SC);
• Other episodes related to the CPI had a high reach on the network and express the clash of narratives and interests between the social movement and the agribusiness. The peak on June 15, for example, was motivated by the news that Ricardo Salles and Zucco Luciano (Republicans-RS) could be removed from the Committee after invading homes of settlers in São Paulo;
• Regarding the aforementioned episode, the moment in which Sâmia Bomfim accused Salles of defending loggers, as a Minister, and of defending land grabbers at the current moment was also highlighted. In this context, the former Minister was classified by environmental profiles as an “ecocide.” In the same period, the intimation of agribusiness entrepreneurs to testify to the CPI for accusations of work analogous to slavery was also significant.

 

 

Main terms related to the MST's CPI on Twitter 

Period: from May 17 to June 26

Source: Twitter | Elaboration: FGV School of Communication, Media, and Information

 

• In general, the debate on the Committee is marked by the repercussion of speeches and events that occurred in the meetings, which is evidenced by the nominal emphasis on the parliamentarians that make up the CPI. There is also marked prominence for the rapporteur Ricardo Salles and the president Tenente Coronel Zucco (Republicanos-RS);
• The debate about the meetings is polarized between the political fields, with substantive disputes about the political framework of the activities of the MST and other social movements organized around the theme. For users who defend MST’s action, the investigation aims to “criminalize the social movement,” while critics speak of “an opportunity to hold the group responsible for terrorist acts;”
• The axes in dispute also extend to environmental issues related to MST’s activities. In these terms, the election of Salles as rapporteur is strongly criticized by the progressive field, since the former Minister of the Environment would have historically acted in favor of agribusiness and the relaxation of environmental laws;
• In this way, the political agenda of the agrarian reform becomes evident when it is directly linked to the debates that took place in the legislative sessions. Among progressives, there is the reproduction of excerpts from the meetings, such as the speeches of specialists in defense of the theme, and criticisms of the CPI for allegedly representing the interests of the “ruralista caucus” and “agribusiness;”
• The group also mobilizes in support of the MST, with the hashtag #tocommst. Those who defend the CPI approach, on the other hand, focus on presenting complaints associated with the mention of “terror in the countryside,” characterizing the Movement's actions as criminal. Congresspeople tweets and excerpts from the sessions stand out from both perspectives.

 

Map of interactions related to the topic on Twitter.

Period: from May 17 to June 26| Number of publications: 295,200

Source: Twitter | Elaboration: FGV School of Communication, Media, and Information

 

Anti-MST (blue) - 55.8% of profiles | 53.2% of interactions

With more robust profile percentages and interactions, the group revolves around congresspeople and hyper-partisan vehicles opposing the government. @caroldetoni, @cabogilberto, @nikolas_dm stand out among congresspeople, while @jornaldacidadeo, @revistaoeste and @terrabrasilnot reinforce the high reach of right-wing, hyper-partisan media profiles in the discussion. The highlighted tweets suggest that the polarization expressed in the CPI does not only concern the “government/opposition” dichotomy, but also highlights the dispute over narratives associated with the interests of social movements (and/or environmentalists) and ruralistas. In the repercussions of the CPI, the MST is often classified as a “terrorist group from the countryside,” while congresspeople in defense of the movement are accused of wanting to change the CPI to “persecute Brazilian agribusiness.” Criticisms of the speech of a pro-government representative who would have stated that agribusiness would not produce rice and denunciations of situations of mistreatment that would have been suffered by former members of the MST stand out. It is claimed that the social movement would practice shady indoctrinations and abuse its members emotionally and financially. The refusal of CPI congresspeople to honor landless people murdered on a farm in the municipality of Pau D’Arco, in Pará, was also celebrated in the group. In relation to this episode, the congressperson @edermauroPA (PL-PA) stood out when he stated that “criminals” did not deserve a minute of silence.

 

Pro-MST (red) - 41.1% of profiles | 45.6% of interactions

The group brings together distinct types of profiles that support the MST and are associated with the progressive field. Featured congresspeople (@samiabomfim, @gleisi [PT-PR] and @jandira_feghali [PCdoB-RJ]), progressive media outlets (@revistaforum and @metropoles) and also leftist hyper partisans (@brasil247 and @dcm_online), in addition to profiles focused on the environmental discussion (@fiscaldoibama and @deolhonoagro) and @mst_oficial itself.  The central perspective of this group is that the CPI was created by the base of opposition to the government to meet the economic interests of the ruralistas and criminalize the social movement. In this sense, the argument is frequent that the MST should be valued for producing a “sustainable and healthy agriculture,” which would be in harmony with the environmental agenda and, more narrowly, with the demands related to agrarian reform. In the environmental debate, @ofiscaldoibama had a high impact with a denunciation by the newspaper O Globo about donations by ruralistas to congresspeople who are part of the MST’s CPI. The article in question points out that 10 of these entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector were accused of crimes such as land grabbing, illegal deforestation and smuggling of wood and gold. On the other hand, the profile @deolhonoagro denounced that a ruralista convicted of slave labor had financed the president of the CPI. The profile also criticized the choice of Salles as the Committee’s rapporteur and the participation of Éder Mauro (PL-PA), who would have been accused of having a “grabbed” farm in Pará. The statement by Guilherme Boulos (PSOL-SP) that Salles was seeking electoral use of the CPI to make a viable candidacy for mayor of São Paulo also circulated in the group.

 

Main links of the debate on the MST's CPI on Facebook

Period: from May 17 to June 26

Source: Facebook | Elaboration: FGV School of Communication, Media, and Information

• With the notorious prominence of right-aligned media outlets, various portals addressed the CPI. Specific events were featured in the traditional UOL Notícias and G1, with the emphasis on the investigation by Alexandre de Moraes in relation to the president of the CPI, congressperson Zucco, also appearing in the Revista Forum, a vehicle associated with the left. The tendency for events favorable to the political fields to reverberate when publicized by news vehicles is also repeated in reports from right-wing portals. While Jovem Pan emphasizes the call of MST leaders, statements by Rodrigo Salles contrary to what he classifies as “invasions” make headlines in Gazeta do Povo, in addition to appearing in Jovem Pan.

 

Congressional debate related to the MST’s CPI on Facebook

Period: from May 17 to June 26

Total of publications: 468

• Congresspeople from the PL and the PT were the ones that most guided the theme on the platform, with 127 and 121 of the publications mapped, respectively. The balance between the two main caucuses of Congress, together with the expressive numbers of PSOL (58) and PCdoB (6), indicate the interest of the leftist base in approaching the theme, between the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The PL's congressional base, however, distances itself from the other parties in the total number of interactions obtained with the 127 posts, exceeding by approximately 144% the metrics obtained by the PT;
• In general, names directly involved in the Committee also lead in interactions, such as Carol De Toni (PL), Gleisi Hoffmann (PT), Gustavo Gayer (PL) and Sâmia Bomfim (PSOL). Vice-president Kim Kataguiri (UNIÃO-SP) does not stand out in engagement, even with 13 publications on the subject, being largely surpassed by traditional right-wing names in the digital debate, such as Carla Zambelli (PL-SP) and Bia Kicis (PL-DF).

 

Main posts about the MST’s CPI on Instagram

Period: from May 17 to June 26

 

• Direct clashes between representatives involved in the Committee were also highlighted by congresspeople on Instagram. In particular, opposition accusations involving the “financing of George Soros” for the NGO “De Olho nos Ruralistas” were frequent among the themes of the publications with greater engagement;
• In particular, congressperson Sâmia Bomfim is the author of several of the main posts on Instagram. She draws attention to the various episodes in which her microphone was cut by the president of the CPI and by the rapporteur, emphasizing the opening of processes in which the MPF  (Federal Public Ministry) requests that the PGR (General Attorney’s Office) investigate whether Bomfim was a victim of gender-based political violence, in reference to the recent Law 14.192.

 

 

Top videos related to the topic on YouTube.

Period: from May 17 to June 26

 

Source: Facebook | Elaboration: FGV School of Communication, Media, and Information

• On YouTube, the right-wing opposition also had an important preponderance in the debate around the CPI, especially from congressional channels and communication vehicles identified with this ideological alignment. Kim Kataguiri, PolitK Brasil and Os Pingos nos Is were highlighted. There were frequent videos with excerpts in which members of the CPI opposed to the MST were framed as “victorious” in relation to the others based on the focus on a certain moment of the sessions, especially the rapporteur Ricardo Salles (PL-SP). The summoning of MST leaders and people linked to President Lula and the government to testify at the CPI was also a point raised as a supposed victory of the opposition to the government;

• In the progressive field, a more significant echo was registered for the coverage of media channels such as Mídia Ninja and political commentators such as Reinaldo Azevedo, in addition to congresspeople directly linked to the CPI, in particular Sâmia Bomfim (PSOL-SP). Also, in evidence on Twitter, Bomfim highlighted the moments when he would have had his speech interrupted during the sessions and classified them as acts of gender political violence. Despite being relatively expressive, these publications appeared in smaller numbers and with less reach than the videos linked to the opposition.

 

Most shared messages related to the topic on Telegram.

Period: from May 17 to June 26

Source: Telegram | Elaboration: FGV School of Communication, Media, and Information

• On Telegram's base, made up mostly of groups on the right of the political spectrum, the MST's CPI is framed as a positive action, as far as it could, from this point of view, “ruin” the PT government and the “plans” from the left. Messages that indicate that government congresspeople linked to the MST would be participating in the Committee to distort it are common, in addition to content that treats the Movement as violent and threatening;
• In this sense, well-known anticommunist narratives are common, highlighting messages that, in terms of urgency, trigger terms such as “absurd,” “shocking discovery” and “strong emotions.” Sensationalism and moral panic, that is to say, call attention to this outstanding content.