The former leader is seeking a political revival despite the ban from office, reflecting Trump’s strategy to regain his job.
Thousands of supporters of former Brazilian president Jea Bolsonaro crammed Copacabana Beach in Rio on Sunday to show support from the right-wing firebrand, accused of trying to overthrow a left-wing successor.
The 69-year-old Bolsonaro called for a powerful demonstration of one million people on Sunday at the famous beach, a show of strength that he hopes to become a candidate ahead of next year’s election.
The stated purpose of the rally is to request pardon from hundreds convicted on January 8, 2023 in Brasilia, the capital where Bolsonaro supporters stormed the Presidential Palace, Congress and the Supreme Court.
“I want to tell everyone who doesn’t like me in Brasilia [Brazil’s capital]: An election without Bolsonaro is a denial of Brazil’s democracy,” the former far-right leader told his supporters on Sunday, noting that he had banned seeking re-election in 2026.
Brazil’s 2019-2022 President hopes to emulate President Donald Trump’s political comeback. On stage, banners raised their fist and showed cards following his life’s attempts on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania last year.
“Because I’m here, I want to leave Brazil better for my kids. Jose de Souza Vitrino, a former military man, 64, told AFP he was one of the protesters.
In January 2023, the mob demanded that the archbishop Bolsonaro be defeated in the October 2022 election and expel left-wing President Louise Inacio Lula da Silva, who was sworn in just a week ago.
The violent rampage evoked an assault on the U.S. Capitol building in Washington by Trump supporters almost two years ago.
Prosecutors believe the riots are part of a criminal plot hatched by then-President Former Bolsonaro, which will overthrow Lula and return to power.
On March 25, Brazil’s Supreme Court will consider whether there is enough evidence to test Bolsonaro, which puts a sentence of more than 40 years at risk.
“Send a message”
Bolsonaro, dubbed “Trump in the Tropical” purports to be a victim of political persecution, like Trump, which aims to rule out seeking a second term in the 2026 presidential election.
He has been declared unqualified to hold public office until 2030 due to his unfounded claims of fraud in Brazil’s electronic voting system, but he hopes to overturn the ban to make a comeback like Trump.
Independent political analyst Andre Rosa said the real purpose of calling for the protest on Sunday was that Bolsonaro “can send a message to the contestants on the right and reaffirm his intention to become a candidate in 2026.”
“At this time, I’m a candidate,” Bolsonaro told a Brasilian journalist this week.
Lula’s Camp also has continuity concerns, and concerns that the health of the 79-year-old president and his popularity have been reduced by consumer inflation.
Source link
