Bolsonaro leads a mass march and declares his innocence in probe of coup plotting

After a year of keeping a low profile, Bolsonarism shows pride, strength and support for the leader on the streets. Jair Messias Bolsonaro, 68, Brazil’s former president, gathered thousands of his followers this Sunday in a massive event in Sao Paulo, called in response to allegations that he conspired with several generals to plot a coup, Who was a minister. He had the support of four fellow governors and dozens of lawmakers. Three days after remaining silent when questioned by police about the alleged plot, Bolsonaro has asked for photographs of the crowd to counter judicial harassment. The Brazilian opposition leader, who retains significant political capital, has eight cases open in the Supreme Court against him, although he has been disqualified until 2030 for abuse of power. “It’s all a conspiracy, we live in a shadow dictatorship,” said Claudia, a 64-year-old educational psychologist.

“Lula, thief, your place is prison,” enthusiastically chanted the attendees, including families with children. T-shirts dedicated to Bolsonaro bearing slogans such as “Myth, Myth, Myth”, Israeli flags and “Proud Patriots” or “God, Country, Family and Freedom” are also back. Following Bolsonaro’s instructions, not a single slogan was raised against the judges of the Supreme Court, as it has many open judicial fronts. There is a lot of speculation about whether he will be jailed or not. “We don’t know. Anything could happen, but he’s innocent,” insists Monica, a 39-year-old receptionist.

It is Ultra’s first major political act since losing the 2022 election against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and thousands of its followers in the most serious attack against Brazilian democracy since the end of the dictatorship. Although he may not participate in the next two elections, Bolsonaro is not giving up. After keeping a low profile for several months, dedicated to answering the many charges against him, he returns to the ring because he fears going to jail and municipal elections take place in October, halfway through Lula’s mandate. Let’s also mark.

Standing on the roof of a bus, Bolsonaro defended himself by arguing that the coup was “tanks in the streets, it’s weapons, it’s a conspiracy.” There was no such thing here!”, ignoring the fact that in the 21st century, coups are done by bending the laws. And, soon after, he mentioned what researchers consider a draft of a coup. “Now it has come to light that it is a shock because there is a draft order of state of siege. Coup using the Constitution? Patience”.

Bolsonaro called the demonstration on Paulista Avenue a day after police arrived at his summer home, confiscated his passport and a judge banned him from traveling abroad. He broadcast a video in which he encouraged his followers to join him while wearing the football team’s shirt. “This will be a peaceful action in defense of our democratic rule of law (…), I want to defend myself against all these accusations,” he explained, while also asking them two things: “Any type of banner No matter who he is against.” And they wear the green and yellow colors of the national flag, which they have made part of their heritage. He also clarified that it is not the speech but the photo that is important. He promised the crowd, “This picture will go around the world.”

The attendees did not carry a single banner, slogan or threat of intimidation against the Supreme Court or Judge Alexandre de Moraes – the dark beast of Bolsonarism or the defender of democracy – depending on who you ask.

getting more and more surrounded

This Sunday’s event was organized and paid for by evangelical pastor Silas Malafia, who officiated at Bolsonaro’s third marriage and remains one of his most unconditional followers. Before the speeches, former first lady and ardent Christian Michelle Bolsonaro prayed and cried. Speakers included the governor of Sao Paulo, the most powerful man in Brazil and Bolsonaro’s likely successor as right-wing leader. In his speech, Tarcisio de Freitas, a retired military officer and less hardline than his political godfather, said, “We are here to celebrate the democratic rule of law and understand its challenges.”

Bolsonaro, who has at times declared that he would rather die than go to jail, has become increasingly entangled in justice and police investigations. The siege on his family and political circle is also getting tighter. The eight cases examined by the Supreme Court involve a little bit of everything: spreading fake news, possessing valuable jewelery that were gifts from the state or mismanagement of Covid-19. His son Carlos, a councilman, is investigated in an illegal espionage plot against the clan’s political opponents.

He sent another son, Eduardo, a congressman, to Washington to represent him at the great Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington this Saturday. Donald Trump, who won the South Carolina primary a few hours later and is seeking the nomination, along with Xavier Miley, Nayib Bukele, Santiago Abascal and Bolsonaro Jr. reactivated their coalition.

The Brazilian Federal Police have accused the former president of attempting a coup along with about twenty military aides and civilians, both active and in reserve. Investigators have accumulated evidence and clues thanks to the confession of Bolsonaro’s personal secretary, who acted as a liaison in several attempts.

According to the indictment, before and after the election, while thousands of Bolsonaro supporters mobilized to demand military intervention, the then-President proposed to the leadership of the armed forces to participate in constitutional violations. Many lawyers drafted a decree to give it the appearance of legitimacy, but the objective was a coup: to annul the electoral result and prevent Lula from seeking a third term, which he clearly won in the elections in 2022.

Paulista Avenue is the scene where Bolsonaro publicly and openly attacked the Supreme Court and Judge Moraes. Three years ago, at an Independence Day event, the then President had given a fiery speech in which he insulted the magistrate by calling him a scoundrel and announced that he would disobey his orders. A few days later he presented a public act of repentance.

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