The former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro met this Sunday Thousands of followers in São Paulo to take his first mass bath since leaving power at the end of 2022 and to defend himself against investigations into an alleged coup attempt.
On top of a truck installed in the middle Avenida Paulistathe city's landmark, Bolsonaro denied the existence of a coup attempt, said he was the victim of “persecution” and criticized the “mistreatment of some.”
“What is a punch? “These are tanks on the street, they are weapons, it is a conspiracy… None of this was done in Brazil,” he defended himself in front of one Crowd dressed in green and yellowthe colors of the flag, and that he applauded him and shouted “myth” after every three sentences.
Jair Bolsonaro greets his supporters who have gathered on Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo. Portal
He assured that at the same time “the protocol of a state of siege decree”The procedure, which was allegedly written by Bolsonaro's advisers and is the focus of the police investigation, is a constitutionally protected mechanism that has in any case not been finally activated.
On the other hand, the right-wing extremists called for “pacification” of the country and called on lawmakers to approve a law Amnesty for people convicted of breaking into the seats of the presidency, Congress and the Supreme Court in Brasilia on January 8, 2023.
However, he avoided explicitly taking action against one of his favorite targets, the Supreme Court, which was already the case His passport was confiscated earlier this month and banned him from leaving the country as part of a police investigation that also involves several generals and allies of the former president.
Bolsonarism hoped to bring together about 185,000 followers on Paulista Avenue after months of legal setbacks, but authorities had not announced attendance numbers until 5:30 p.m.
In a show of political strength, the former First Lady, Michelle BolsonaroA handful of governors and mayors as well as around a hundred members of parliament accompanied the right-wing extremists in the arena.
Unlike the moderate tone of Bolsonaro, the influential evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia He attacked the court and spoke of an accusation “evil engineering” to try to jail the ultra leader, who has already been disqualified until 2030 for questioning the electronic ballot boxes used in the elections. Malafaia warned that if the court's judges order Bolsonaro's imprisonment, “it will not be for his (former) destruction, but for their own.”
Avenida Paulista
Hours before the event began, Ultra supporters gathered on Avenida Paulista to get a front row seat in front of the truck, whose speakers blasted techno music at full volume to enliven the atmosphere.
Wrapped in Brazilian flags, the majority followed Bolsonaro's request not to carry signs with the usual insults against him Supreme Court or the president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
However, there were such during the protest Cries of “thief” against Lula and speaking to Efe, several protesters questioned the “impartiality” of the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the Workers' Party, Lula's party, accused Bolsonaro of organizing terrorism “illegitimate” act that threatens democracy.