Councilman wants to report bar that announced free beer if Bolsonaro gets arrested

By Ana Pastana – From Cenarium

MANAUS (AM) – The councilman of the Municipal Chamber of Belém (CMB), Zezinho Lima (PL), stated that he will report the traditional bar and restaurant Café com Arte, located in the capital of Pará, after the establishment promised on X, formerly Twitter, to distribute 13 kegs of beer for free if former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) is arrested. The post dates back to 2023 and was brought up again by the councilman on Tuesday, the 25th.

The bar’s promise resurfaced after Bolsonaro was indicted by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) on February 18 this year by the General Attorney of the Republic, Paulo Gonet, for attempting a coup d’état and other crimes after losing the 2022 elections.

In a video recorded in front of Café com Arte, Zezinho stated that he will call on oversight agencies to verify whether the bar and restaurant are operating legally. The councilman also mentioned that he will forward complaints from local residents who complain about thick smoke in the area.

“I’m here at that Café com Arte bar, which is saying it will give out 13 kegs of beer if Bolsonaro gets arrested. I want to say that, as a councilman, I will file a request with the Municipal Chamber to check if they are legal, if their health inspection is up to date, and if they comply with the Environmental Secretariat regulations. I will also file a complaint with the Military Police and Civil Police because the neighbors are complaining a lot. The events here generate a lot of smoke, no one knows what kind of smoke it is, and the smell is very strong,” said the politician. Watch the video below.

Zezinho Lima’s Political Path

Elected for his first term as a councilman in Belém with 6,258 valid votes in the 2024 elections, José Maria de Lima Segundo, known as Zezinho Lima, holds degrees in Business Administration and Public Administration, with a postgraduate degree in Human Resource Management, specializing in Government and Citizenship School in the State of São Paulo. He previously served as a secretary in the municipality of Ananindeua, located 20 kilometers from Belém, and was elected as a councilman there in 2020.

With multiple posts on social media alongside Bolsonaro, Zezinho actively uses his Instagram account to oppose the federal government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), and the governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho (MDB).

In August 2023, Zezinho posted a photo showing a tattoo on his right arm featuring the bust of former President Bolsonaro. In the caption, he wrote: “Bolsonaro until the end. Out, Lula! No matter who it hurts!”

Café com Arte

The establishment, located on Rui Barbosa Street in the Nazaré neighborhood of Belém, has been operating since 2002 and offers a diverse cultural program for its visitors. Registered under the CNPJ number 05.515.478/0001-78, its managing partners are Carla Conceição Oliveira da Silva and Roberto Figueiredo da Silva, according to the Federal Revenue Service.

During the ordinary session on Wednesday, the 26th, at CMB, councilman Rodrigo Moraes (PCdoB) used his speaking time to express his support for Café com Arte, highlighting its cultural significance for the capital.

“I want to offer my mandate in support of an important cultural space in our city, Café com Arte, which was targeted by councilman Zezinho this past weekend. Café com Arte is an important space for culture and social relations, and we will be celebrating there. Zezinho is invited to join us because there is no amnesty,” said Moraes.

CENARIUM contacted the establishment’s owner, Roberto Figueiredo, to inquire about their stance regarding the oversight announced by councilman Zezinho. According to Figueiredo, this is not the first time the councilman has tried to interfere with the bar’s operations.

“This isn’t the first time this councilman has done this, is it? It’s more political persecution than anything else. Café com Arte has been here for 22 years; would it suddenly not have a license to operate now?” he said.

Figueiredo added that he remains calm as the owner of the cultural space but is concerned as a citizen about the councilman’s stance. He also questioned whether other bars and restaurants in the city would be subjected to the same scrutiny.

“We’re calm because we know what we’re doing. We’ve been keeping the city alive for 22 years, supporting our state’s and our city’s culture, as well as the economy, right? But now, it’s not just the owner of Café com Arte speaking; it’s a citizen who pays taxes. There are so many other things for him to focus on in the city—like the UPAs [Emergency Care Units], the buses falling apart, the pothole-filled streets—but instead, he’s worried about a bar that has held the same political stance for years,” said the owner.

The report also reached out to councilman Zezinho for comment. He stated that the bar became the target of oversight after he received numerous complaints from local residents. He emphasized that his political views and those of Café com Arte have no influence on his oversight duties.

“I have received many complaints about this establishment. It’s a very noisy place, and that area is downtown Belém. The loud music and heavy smoke—they complain a lot about the smell. My oversight is solely based on the complaints I’ve received about this establishment, and I am simply doing my duty as a councilman by inspecting where the population reports issues,” Zezinho clarified.

Edited by Adrisa De Góes
Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves