Former President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, led a significant demonstration of his supporters in São Paulo on Sunday as he refuted accusations that he had been implicated in an attempted coup plot to maintain his position in power following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election.
The avenue of Paulista, a major artery in Brazil’s biggest city, was filled with Bolsonaro’s backers, displaying the green and gold of the Brazilian national flag, as they gathered in solidarity with their former leader. The rally was called for by Bolsonaro on Website social media integration last week under the banner of “defending the democratic rule of law.”
Bolsonaro, a right-wing populist, has been under investigation by the Brazilian Federal Police for allegedly orchestrating an attempted coup to keep him in power after his election loss. His lawyer confirmed these reports earlier this year.
Several of Bolsonaro’s former ministers and some aides have also been implicated in the investigation, according to various media sources. Bolsonaro, however, maintains that he is being unjustly persecuted and did not make any direct mention of the organizations handling the investigation during his Sunday speech.
Last year, Bolsonaro was barred from running for political office until 2030 by Brazil’s highest electoral court as a result of abusing his power and misusing public media during the 2022 election campaign.
Following Bolsonaro’s narrow defeat to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his supporters staged violent protests and breached government buildings in Brasilia on January 8, 2023. Bolsonaro denies having instigated these attacks.
During the rally on Sunday, Bolsonaro appealed for an amnesty for those detained in connection with the Brasilia riots, referring to them as “poor people,” according to CNN Brasil.
Bolsonaro also waved an Israeli flag during the rally in protest against Lula da Silva, who has compared Israel’s military campaign on Gaza to the Holocaust.
This report does not rely on CNN for its information.
