PRF points out risks on BR-040 due to walking from Nikolas to Brasília without prior notice

The Federal Highway Police (PRF) said that the initiative by federal deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) to walk from the interior of Minas Gerais to Brasília generates “extraordinary risks” to traffic on BR-040. The parliamentarian announced the route on Monday (19) from Paracatu (MG), where he was on the agenda to deliver a parliamentary amendment — the objective, according to him, is to fight “for freedom and justice”, in response “to the unjust arrests of January 8 and of former president Jair Bolsonaro”.

However, according to the PRF, “there was no prior communication of the movement with the transit authority, which prevented advance planning of risk mitigating measures for the section”. The corporation highlighted “the risks inherent to the extraordinary flow on the road” for “strictly operational and road safety” reasons and confirmed that it monitors movement.

In a note sent to press vehicles, Nikolas’ team said that letters were sent to the PRF and the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT). The parliamentarian’s office argued that he decided to start the walk on the same day he began the journey.

“Still, on the day of the start, the advisory department sent letters to the PRF and ANTT, officially communicating the route along BR-040. It should be noted that on the first day the number of people was still small as it was the first day”, states the note.

Nikolas’ team stated that he is committed to security and that the Executive Secretariat of the PRF Operations Directorate confirmed receipt of the letter and registration in the Electronic Information System (SEI). “In other words, there was formal communication within the concrete possibilities of the case. In addition to the PRF, the other public security bodies that aim to guarantee the constitutional order are being formalized as the routes are being made viable”, he said.

The walk includes names such as federal deputies Gustavo Gayer (PL-GO) and André Fernandes (PL-CE).

Left-wing parliamentarians reacted to Nikolas’ walk. On social media, federal deputy Rogério Correia (PT-MG) called the pilgrimage promoted by Nikolas a “staging”. One of the objectives of the walk is to get Bolsonaro placed under house arrest, which Rogério says “will not work”. The former president was transferred to the 19th Military Police Battalion of the Federal District, in Complexo da Papuda, last week, after being detained at the Federal Police Superintendency in Brasília.

“Inventing medical problems to escape criminal liability is an old tactic of those who are afraid of justice. We’ve seen this script before and it no longer works”, Rogério provoked.

Federal deputy Célia Xakriabá (Psol-MG) also mocked the walk. According to the parliamentarian, the action demonstrates that Nikolas “does everything to avoid having to work”.

Understand the walk

The route began in the municipality of Paracatu, close to the border with Goiás and approximately 240 km away on foot from the federal capital. The action was announced by the parliamentarian in a video published on social media.

— I, as a federal deputy, along with other deputies and senators, have the same feeling as you regarding the unjust arrests of 8/1 and the arrest of former president Bolsonaro itself, in relation to this government and the Federal Supreme Court. I’ve been praying for God to give me an idea about what to do, I’ve been thinking and the day has come. Therefore, I decided to walk to Brasília in a symbolic act to bring light to all the facts that are happening — he said.

In a note released on social media, PL, Nikolas’ party, supported the initiative:

“We need to act with courage, position and determination, because we don’t run away when freedom is at stake. Let’s go together in defense of real democracy: one that respects the people, the Constitution and the right to think differently. Free Bolsonaro, free Brazil”, wrote the caption.

The start of the walk was announced a week after he published a video with new accusations that said the government would be monitoring and would start taxing Pix, repeating the strategy he adopted at the beginning of 2025 that affected the popularity of the Lula administration. The information was subsequently denied by the Federal Revenue Service, by government agencies and criticized by the president during an agenda in Rio de Janeiro last Friday.

The Minas Gerais parliamentarian’s movements also come after he was criticized and accused by allies of the Bolsonaro camp last year for not speaking out in defense of the actions of former deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) in the United States.