The political question in Brazil is not whether Bolsonaro will end up in prison or not, but when, since the conspiracy that the police uncover about his failed attempts at a military coup to prevent Lula from power, or as he says, “des Communism” lies in the light of the sun.
The doubt also lies with the Lula government as to whether it is interested in imprisoning the right-wing extremist now, for fear that his still existing supporters could make him a martyr, which, if it is true that there are still many , has declined and ranges from some army forces to right-wing businessmen to the strength of the Protestant churches.
Anyone who knows the diverse Brazilian extreme right and the close relationships not only of Bolsonaro, but of his entire family, with the American Trump, who could return to power in the USA, is convinced that Bolsonaro is waiting for this result before giving up.
And that is also Lula's fear that with a possible victory for Trump in America, after the current victories of the two right-wing extremists, a dangerous trio could form, with Milei in Argentina and Bukele in El Salvador, which would culminate in a kind of American extreme right. As Janaina Figuereido writes in her “O Globo” column, a new Latin American far-right network is emerging under the leadership of former President Trump, commenting: “These are dark times for the regional integration plans of the Lula III government.”
Bolsonaro knows all this and it is perhaps why he chose not to capitulate and risk the possibility of imprisonment by calling for a nationwide demonstration in his favor the next day, the 25th. © him, “in defense of faith, family and freedom”.
Aware of the risk he wants to bet on, he calls on his supporters to focus on the myth of São Paulo, dressed in the colors of the national flag, without banners with anti-government slogans, completely peaceful, which could even end with a prayer, as the demonstration was sponsored by Silas Malafaia, one of the most powerful figures in the Pentecostal Church.
Bus caravans from all over Brazil are already being mobilized for the event at a cost of 200 reais (40 euros), usually sponsored by right-wing businessmen who have always supported Bolsonaro in his public demonstrations and his coup plans.
The strange thing about Bolsonaro's surprise that, with one foot in prison, he decides to challenge the government and risk everything with this demonstration, especially if it fails, is that he is not seen as a figure like Trump. Proud, capable of challenging power in the light of the sun. Bolsonaro always operated in the shadows of sub-politics. In addition, in one of the videos discovered by the police of a meeting with ministers to prepare the coup to prevent Lula's election, he appears wearing a humility costume. He confesses to the ministers present, including soldiers who took part in the coup, that he has never been involved in politics: that he has spent his whole life in Congress as a simple deputy, moving through eight smaller parties. At a moment when there is silence in the ministerial meeting, Bolsonaro even goes so far as to say that he does not know how a “cagón” like him, who could describe himself as a coward and insignificant, could “sit between” “this chairman” and referred to the presidency of the government.
Perhaps because of the “cowardly” image that emerges of him in the police investigation, which has brought to light a dozen alleged crimes that would be enough to warrant his imprisonment, he has surprised the political class and the government by their audacity to imprison anyone to challenge the deepest moment of his political fate.
This is clear from the fact that they declared the national demonstration in their favor precisely in the greater São Paulo area, a kind of traditional shrine to the great historical demonstrations that often changed the direction of the government, as happened first with former President Dilma , who was the victim of an impeachment trial and was later imprisoned along with Lula.
Bolsonaro has taken the opportunity to call this nationwide demonstration in his favor as Lula, his big nightmare, is traveling through Africa. The President and his government have expressed diplomatic silence, undoubtedly waiting for this ordeal of a politically severely wounded Bolsonaro to end in failure, if not a prison sentence, if the demonstration were to take place, even against the will of the extremist , an act against the government.
With regard to the already serious legal allegations against Bolsonaro, Lula has so far been reserved. At the moment he seems to prefer to release him so that he does not become a martyr in prison that the right could exploit. And the thing is that apart from him, according to the unanimous opinion among political analysts, there is still no figure capable of inheriting Bolsonarism, wounded but still alive, like Audacity This dangerous national call is keeping the country in suspense.
Subscribe to continue reading
Read without limits
_