Supporters of former Brazilian President Bolsonaro demonstrate in Sao Paulo
Thousands of Brazilians took part in a demonstration in central Sao Paulo on Sunday called by former President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces a heavy prison sentence for attempted coups after losing the 2022 election.
“Brazil needs all of us, for freedom and justice,” the former president (2019-2022) wrote on X, calling on his supporters to demonstrate on Paulista Avenue, the main street in South America’s largest city.
“Those who accuse me may have many trump cards up their sleeves, but I have three things on my side that they don’t have: God, freedom, and the support of a large part of the Brazilian people,” Bolsonaro told the crowd, many of whom were wearing the green and yellow colors of the Brazilian flag.
Bolsonaro has called for numerous protests since his case began, but attendance appears to have been declining in recent months.
The University of São Paulo estimated that about 12,400 people participated in the demonstration on Sunday, a sharp drop from the 45,000 who participated in April and the 185,000 estimated to have participated in a march for Bolsonaro in February.
During a key stage of his trial before the Supreme Court earlier this month, he denied involvement in an alleged coup plot to regain power after he was narrowly defeated by leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the October 2022 polls.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office said the plot to assassinate Lula and several other officials failed due to a lack of support from the military’s top leadership.
Brazilian police also sought separate charges against Bolsonaro and his son for illegal espionage during his presidency.
Bolsonaro, (70), has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the various cases against him are a politically motivated prosecution aimed at preventing him from running again in the 2026 elections.
A former Brazilian army officer dreams of emulating Donald Trump’s return to the White House, despite being barred from public office until 2030 due to his attacks on Brazil’s electronic voting system.
Bolsonaro spoke about the general elections scheduled for next year, focusing in particular on the legislative elections.
“Give me 50% of the House and Senate, and I will change Brazil’s destiny,” he told his supporters.
