UPDATED
Pro-Bolsonaro protesters break down Brasilia police blockade
Issued on: 07/09/2021
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro is seeking to mobilize his
base as he faces investigations and record-low poll numbers
MAURO PIMENTEL AFP/File
Brasília (AFP)
Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tore down a police blockade Monday night in downtown Brasilia, police said, on the eve of massive demonstrations that have the country on edge.
Fighting record-low poll numbers, Bolsonaro is seeking to mobilize his base, particularly at the protests in Brasilia and Sao Paulo.
The far-right leader plans to attend both rallies on Tuesday, Brazil's Independence Day, as he tries to build pressure on the supreme court over investigations into him and his inner circle.
Hundreds of people arriving to participate in Tuesday's protests "broke through containment barriers" and entered the avenue leading to the National Congress and Supreme Court (STF) buildings, according to the federal district police.
The avenue had been closed to traffic as a security measure.
In videos posted on social media and shared by local news outlets, a small caravan of cars and trucks was seen entering the Ministries Esplanade, cheered on by protesters walking and waving Brazilian flags.
"We just invaded! The police could not contain the people! And tomorrow we are going to invade the STF," one walking protester shouted.
The marches have monopolized public debate in Brazil, including warnings to avoid something similar to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of former president Donald Trump.
Bolsonaro has often drawn comparisons to Trump.
Police reported they were still at the scene. In images shown by CNN Brazil, the situation appeared to be under control.
The federal district government has organized an operation with 5,000 police officers to protect public buildings and help avoid riots.
Opposition groups have also called for protests.
Bolsonaro has said in recent days that Tuesday's rallies should be considered an "ultimatum" for the Supreme Court judges, who have opened several investigations into him and his inner circle, notably over allegations of systematically spreading fake news from within the government.
Despite claiming the purpose of the protests is to defend "freedom," many pro-Bolsonaro demonstrators who organized on social media plan to chant slogans in support of attacks on democratic institutions.
Some are even calling for Bolsonaro to lead a "military intervention."
© 2021 AFP
Brasília (AFP)
Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tore down a police blockade Monday night in downtown Brasilia, police said, on the eve of massive demonstrations that have the country on edge.
Fighting record-low poll numbers, Bolsonaro is seeking to mobilize his base, particularly at the protests in Brasilia and Sao Paulo.
The far-right leader plans to attend both rallies on Tuesday, Brazil's Independence Day, as he tries to build pressure on the supreme court over investigations into him and his inner circle.
Hundreds of people arriving to participate in Tuesday's protests "broke through containment barriers" and entered the avenue leading to the National Congress and Supreme Court (STF) buildings, according to the federal district police.
The avenue had been closed to traffic as a security measure.
In videos posted on social media and shared by local news outlets, a small caravan of cars and trucks was seen entering the Ministries Esplanade, cheered on by protesters walking and waving Brazilian flags.
"We just invaded! The police could not contain the people! And tomorrow we are going to invade the STF," one walking protester shouted.
The marches have monopolized public debate in Brazil, including warnings to avoid something similar to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of former president Donald Trump.
Bolsonaro has often drawn comparisons to Trump.
Police reported they were still at the scene. In images shown by CNN Brazil, the situation appeared to be under control.
The federal district government has organized an operation with 5,000 police officers to protect public buildings and help avoid riots.
Opposition groups have also called for protests.
Bolsonaro has said in recent days that Tuesday's rallies should be considered an "ultimatum" for the Supreme Court judges, who have opened several investigations into him and his inner circle, notably over allegations of systematically spreading fake news from within the government.
Despite claiming the purpose of the protests is to defend "freedom," many pro-Bolsonaro demonstrators who organized on social media plan to chant slogans in support of attacks on democratic institutions.
Some are even calling for Bolsonaro to lead a "military intervention."
© 2021 AFP
Brazil's Bolsonaro Rallies His Followers Against The Courts In A Major Demonstration
September 7, 2021
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gather on Copacabana Beach on Independence Day in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrives for a flag raising ceremony at Alvorada Palace presidential residence on Independence Day in Brasilia, Brazil
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Regina Pontes, 53, stood atop a flatbed that advanced toward police barriers preventing access to Congress and the Supreme Court. She said the Brazilian people have every right to enter the area.
"You can't close the door to keep the owner out," she said.
The world's second-highest COVID-19 death toll, a drumbeat of accusations of wrongdoing in the government's handling of the pandemic, and surging inflation have weighed on Bolsonaro's approval ratings.
Polls show his nemesis, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, could trounce him in a runoff if he enters the race.
Bolsonaro set out to prove pollsters wrong with Tuesday's demonstration, whose organizers promised: "Sept. 7 will be gigantic!"
A protester holds an effigy of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that reads in Portuguese "Genocide" during a protest against the president's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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On the eve of Tuesday's protest, Bolsonaro signed a provisional measure sharply limiting social media platforms' ability to remove content, restrict its spread or block accounts.
A 69-year-old farmer from Minas Gerais state, Clever Greco, came to Brasilia with a group of more than 1,000 others. He said Brazil's conservatives back Bolsonaro's call for the removal of two Supreme Court justices by peaceful means. But Greco also likened his trip to deploying for war.
"I don't know what day I'll go back. I'm prepared to give my blood, if needed," Greco said. "We're no longer asking; the people are ordering."
The U.S. Embassy in Brasilia last week warned Americans to steer clear of the protests.
"This is an important moment and surrounded by a lot of apprehension," Paulo Calmon, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia, said before the demonstrations. "The risk we see scenes of violence and an institutional crisis that's unprecedented in Brazil's recent history still remains and is considerable."
September 7, 2021
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gather on Copacabana Beach on Independence Day in Rio de Janeiro.
Bruna Prado/AP
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro got a rousing reception from tens of thousands of people gathered in the capital Tuesday in an Independence Day show of support for the right-wing leader embroiled in a feud with the country's Supreme Court.
Bolsonaro, in an address inaudible to many in the crowd far from the loudspeakers, lashed out at the high court and said the nation can no longer accept what he characterized as political imprisonments — a reference to arrests ordered by Justice Alexandre de Moraes. He warned that the court could "suffer what we don't want."
The crowd began chanting, "Alexandre out!"
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His speech followed a helicopter flyover, with those on the ground seized with euphoria at the sight. They applauded and shouted, "Legend!" and "I authorize!" — a slogan widely understood as blanket approval of his methods.
Bolsonaro has called on the Senate to impeach de Moraes, who has jailed several of the president's supporters for allegedly financing, organizing or inciting violence or disseminating false information.
Massive participation in rallies scheduled across the country would reinforce Bolsonaro's push to prove he retains strength — despite slumping poll ratings — and recover momentum after a string of setbacks.
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He is also seeking support in his dispute with the high court. Some on Tuesday carried banners calling for military intervention to secure Bolsonaro's hold on power.
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro got a rousing reception from tens of thousands of people gathered in the capital Tuesday in an Independence Day show of support for the right-wing leader embroiled in a feud with the country's Supreme Court.
Bolsonaro, in an address inaudible to many in the crowd far from the loudspeakers, lashed out at the high court and said the nation can no longer accept what he characterized as political imprisonments — a reference to arrests ordered by Justice Alexandre de Moraes. He warned that the court could "suffer what we don't want."
The crowd began chanting, "Alexandre out!"
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil: Military Chiefs Replaced Amid Major Reshuffle Of Bolsonaro Government
His speech followed a helicopter flyover, with those on the ground seized with euphoria at the sight. They applauded and shouted, "Legend!" and "I authorize!" — a slogan widely understood as blanket approval of his methods.
Bolsonaro has called on the Senate to impeach de Moraes, who has jailed several of the president's supporters for allegedly financing, organizing or inciting violence or disseminating false information.
Massive participation in rallies scheduled across the country would reinforce Bolsonaro's push to prove he retains strength — despite slumping poll ratings — and recover momentum after a string of setbacks.
Article continues after sponsor message
He is also seeking support in his dispute with the high court. Some on Tuesday carried banners calling for military intervention to secure Bolsonaro's hold on power.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro arrives for a flag raising ceremony at Alvorada Palace presidential residence on Independence Day in Brasilia, Brazil
.Eraldo Peres/AP
Critics feared the demonstrations could take a violent turn. Some said they were afraid Bolsonaro could be preparing a tropical version of the Jan. 6 riot in Washington, where supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, alleging he had been robbed of a reelection victory.
Like Trump, Bolsonaro was elected on a pledge to go after a corrupt, entrenched political class. He has also said he might reject the 2022 election results if he loses.
On Monday evening, supporters broke through police lines set up to block vehicles and halt early pedestrian access to the capital's central mall. By morning, dozens of honking trucks were parked on the mall, where only pedestrians were supposed to be allowed. Along the esplanade, there was a festive mood, with cold drinks and the scent of grilled meat.
Critics feared the demonstrations could take a violent turn. Some said they were afraid Bolsonaro could be preparing a tropical version of the Jan. 6 riot in Washington, where supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, alleging he had been robbed of a reelection victory.
Like Trump, Bolsonaro was elected on a pledge to go after a corrupt, entrenched political class. He has also said he might reject the 2022 election results if he loses.
On Monday evening, supporters broke through police lines set up to block vehicles and halt early pedestrian access to the capital's central mall. By morning, dozens of honking trucks were parked on the mall, where only pedestrians were supposed to be allowed. Along the esplanade, there was a festive mood, with cold drinks and the scent of grilled meat.
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Regina Pontes, 53, stood atop a flatbed that advanced toward police barriers preventing access to Congress and the Supreme Court. She said the Brazilian people have every right to enter the area.
"You can't close the door to keep the owner out," she said.
The world's second-highest COVID-19 death toll, a drumbeat of accusations of wrongdoing in the government's handling of the pandemic, and surging inflation have weighed on Bolsonaro's approval ratings.
Polls show his nemesis, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, could trounce him in a runoff if he enters the race.
Bolsonaro set out to prove pollsters wrong with Tuesday's demonstration, whose organizers promised: "Sept. 7 will be gigantic!"
A protester holds an effigy of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that reads in Portuguese "Genocide" during a protest against the president's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Silvia Izquierdo/AP
The president was scheduled to speak again in the afternoon in Sao Paulo. He predicted a crowd of 2 million.
Tuesday's demonstrations "may show that he has millions of people who are ready to stand up and be with him even when Brazil's economy is in a bad situation, inflation near 10%, the pandemic and all that," said Thomas Traumann, a political analyst.
"If Bolsonaro feels he has the support of millions of Brazilians, he will go further in his challenging of the Supreme Court," Traumann added.
Some centrist allies have implored the president to dial down his rancor to avoid jeopardizing support from moderate voters and lawmakers.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly claimed the Supreme Court is trampling on constitutional limits and should be reined in. That has raised fears among his critics, given his frequently expressed nostalgia for the nation's past military dictatorship.
The president was scheduled to speak again in the afternoon in Sao Paulo. He predicted a crowd of 2 million.
Tuesday's demonstrations "may show that he has millions of people who are ready to stand up and be with him even when Brazil's economy is in a bad situation, inflation near 10%, the pandemic and all that," said Thomas Traumann, a political analyst.
"If Bolsonaro feels he has the support of millions of Brazilians, he will go further in his challenging of the Supreme Court," Traumann added.
Some centrist allies have implored the president to dial down his rancor to avoid jeopardizing support from moderate voters and lawmakers.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly claimed the Supreme Court is trampling on constitutional limits and should be reined in. That has raised fears among his critics, given his frequently expressed nostalgia for the nation's past military dictatorship.
THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
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On the eve of Tuesday's protest, Bolsonaro signed a provisional measure sharply limiting social media platforms' ability to remove content, restrict its spread or block accounts.
A 69-year-old farmer from Minas Gerais state, Clever Greco, came to Brasilia with a group of more than 1,000 others. He said Brazil's conservatives back Bolsonaro's call for the removal of two Supreme Court justices by peaceful means. But Greco also likened his trip to deploying for war.
"I don't know what day I'll go back. I'm prepared to give my blood, if needed," Greco said. "We're no longer asking; the people are ordering."
The U.S. Embassy in Brasilia last week warned Americans to steer clear of the protests.
"This is an important moment and surrounded by a lot of apprehension," Paulo Calmon, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia, said before the demonstrations. "The risk we see scenes of violence and an institutional crisis that's unprecedented in Brazil's recent history still remains and is considerable."
Bolsonaro supporters march in Brasilia, held back from Supreme Court
Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro attends Independence Day ceremony in Brasilia
By Anthony Boadle and Gabriel Stargardter
BRASILIA (Reuters) -Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gathered outside Congress in Brasilia on Tuesday to back the far-right leader in his dispute with the Supreme Court, exacerbating a conflict that has rattled Latin America’s largest democracy.
On Monday night, hundreds of demonstrators dressed in the green-and-yellow colors of the Brazilian flag breached one police cordon and trucks honking horns advanced towards Congress.
They were blocked by police barriers then, and again on Tuesday, from reaching the Supreme Court, which some demonstrators have vowed to occupy in a protest modeled on the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
The court has authorized investigations of Bolsonaro allies over accusations they attacked Brazil’s democratic institutions with misinformation online. Bolsonaro has called the court-ordered probes a violation of free speech rights.
Congress and the courts also resisted Bolsonaro’s attempt to introduce paper voting receipts as a backup to an electronic voting system which he says is vulnerable to fraud. The electoral court maintains the system is transparent and safe.
Bolsonaro urged government supporters to turn out in record numbers, hoping for an overwhelming display to offset his slipping support in opinion polls and setbacks in his clash with the judiciary.
“From now on I won’t accept one or two people acting outside the constitution,” Bolsonaro said in comments to supporters on Tuesday morning, echoing his recent criticism of certain Supreme Court justices, before he donned the presidential sash and rode in an open Rolls Royce to a military event marking Independence Day.
In Rio de Janeiro, along Copacabana Beach, rows of trucks draped in Brazilian flags parked along the esplanade, as yellow-clad bikers roared past, honking their horns.
“I’m here because I’m Brazilian and as a Christian. Today we have a president who believes in God and the family,” said Claudio Mattos, 44, wearing yellow face paint and a camouflage cap. He said he was an off-duty military police officer.
Bolsonaro’s longstanding support among police and military rank and file has contributed to concerns that uniformed officers could take part in demonstrations or fail to contain potential excesses.
Critics fear the president is encouraging supporters to the point that they might try to invade the Supreme Court.
Brasilia security forces used tear gas outside the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday morning to deter a crowd heading toward the court. A public square outside the Supreme Court remained closed off by barriers and a line of police, television images showed.
Bolsonaro said on Friday the demonstrations will be an ultimatum to the Supreme Court justices who had taken what he called “unconstitutional” decisions against his government.
Bolsonaro’s critics say he is sowing doubts so he can challenge the results of next year’s election, which opinion polls now show him losing to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Neither has confirmed his candidacy.
Bolsonaro supporter Monica Martins, a 51-year-old lawyer at the demonstration in Rio, said she was certain of Bolsonaro’s victory next year.
“If he loses, we know there was fraud,” she said.
In the afternoon, Bolsonaro will join supporters on a major avenue in Sao Paulo at a gathering that he has billed as the biggest political rally in Brazilian history.
Many leftist leaders have urged their followers to avoid clashes by skipping counter-demonstrations on Tuesday in favor of larger anti-Bolsonaro protests on Sept. 12.
(Reporting by Anthony Boadle in Brasilia and Gabriel Stargardter in Rio de Janeiro; Editing by Brad Haynes and Rosalba O’Brien)
Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro attends Independence Day ceremony in Brasilia
By Anthony Boadle and Gabriel Stargardter
BRASILIA (Reuters) -Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gathered outside Congress in Brasilia on Tuesday to back the far-right leader in his dispute with the Supreme Court, exacerbating a conflict that has rattled Latin America’s largest democracy.
On Monday night, hundreds of demonstrators dressed in the green-and-yellow colors of the Brazilian flag breached one police cordon and trucks honking horns advanced towards Congress.
They were blocked by police barriers then, and again on Tuesday, from reaching the Supreme Court, which some demonstrators have vowed to occupy in a protest modeled on the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
The court has authorized investigations of Bolsonaro allies over accusations they attacked Brazil’s democratic institutions with misinformation online. Bolsonaro has called the court-ordered probes a violation of free speech rights.
Congress and the courts also resisted Bolsonaro’s attempt to introduce paper voting receipts as a backup to an electronic voting system which he says is vulnerable to fraud. The electoral court maintains the system is transparent and safe.
Bolsonaro urged government supporters to turn out in record numbers, hoping for an overwhelming display to offset his slipping support in opinion polls and setbacks in his clash with the judiciary.
“From now on I won’t accept one or two people acting outside the constitution,” Bolsonaro said in comments to supporters on Tuesday morning, echoing his recent criticism of certain Supreme Court justices, before he donned the presidential sash and rode in an open Rolls Royce to a military event marking Independence Day.
In Rio de Janeiro, along Copacabana Beach, rows of trucks draped in Brazilian flags parked along the esplanade, as yellow-clad bikers roared past, honking their horns.
“I’m here because I’m Brazilian and as a Christian. Today we have a president who believes in God and the family,” said Claudio Mattos, 44, wearing yellow face paint and a camouflage cap. He said he was an off-duty military police officer.
Bolsonaro’s longstanding support among police and military rank and file has contributed to concerns that uniformed officers could take part in demonstrations or fail to contain potential excesses.
Critics fear the president is encouraging supporters to the point that they might try to invade the Supreme Court.
Brasilia security forces used tear gas outside the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday morning to deter a crowd heading toward the court. A public square outside the Supreme Court remained closed off by barriers and a line of police, television images showed.
Bolsonaro said on Friday the demonstrations will be an ultimatum to the Supreme Court justices who had taken what he called “unconstitutional” decisions against his government.
Bolsonaro’s critics say he is sowing doubts so he can challenge the results of next year’s election, which opinion polls now show him losing to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Neither has confirmed his candidacy.
Bolsonaro supporter Monica Martins, a 51-year-old lawyer at the demonstration in Rio, said she was certain of Bolsonaro’s victory next year.
“If he loses, we know there was fraud,” she said.
In the afternoon, Bolsonaro will join supporters on a major avenue in Sao Paulo at a gathering that he has billed as the biggest political rally in Brazilian history.
Many leftist leaders have urged their followers to avoid clashes by skipping counter-demonstrations on Tuesday in favor of larger anti-Bolsonaro protests on Sept. 12.
(Reporting by Anthony Boadle in Brasilia and Gabriel Stargardter in Rio de Janeiro; Editing by Brad Haynes and Rosalba O’Brien)
Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro attends Independence Day ceremony in Brasilia
President Bolsonaro supporters march in support of his attacks on the country’s Supreme Court, in Brasilia
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro leads marches against the Supreme Court in Brasilia
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro leads marches against the Supreme Court in Brasilia
Brazil: warning Bolsonaro may be planning military coup amid rallies
Former world leaders and public figures say nationwide marches are modelled on US Capitol insurrection
Jair Bolsonaro warned on 21 August that the rallies were a ‘necessary counter-coup’ against Congress and the supreme court.
Photograph: Adriano Machado/Reuters
Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Mon 6 Sep 2021 08.55 BST
The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, and his allies could be preparing to mount a military coup in Brazil, according to an influential group of former presidents, prime ministers and leading public figures on the left.
An open letter claims rallies that Bolsonaro followers are staging on Tuesday represent a danger to democracy and amount to an insurrection modelled on Donald Trump supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on 6 January.
They assert the nationwide marches by Bolsonaro supporters against the supreme court and Congress, involving white supremacist groups, military police, and public officials at every level of government, are “stoking fears of a coup in the world’s third largest democracy”.
Fears of violence on Brazil’s streets as millions rally to back Bolsonaro
Signatories include José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish former prime minister, Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister, Jeremy Corbyn, the former UK Labour leader, Fernando Lugo, the former Paraguayan president, Caroline Lucas, the British Green MP, and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, the Argentine Nobel laureate and human rights activist.
They point out that on 10 August, Bolsonaro “directed an unprecedented military parade through the capital city of Brasília, as his allies in Congress pushed sweeping reforms to the country’s electoral system that he says are critical before the presidential elections next year”.
The president himself said on 21 August that the marches were preparation for a “necessary countercoup” against Congress and the supreme court. His message claimed that Brazil’s “communist constitution” had taken away his power, and accused “the judiciary, the left, and a whole apparatus of hidden interests” of conspiring against him.
The open letter warns: “Members of Congress in Brazil have warned that the 7 September mobilisation has been modelled on the insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, when then-president Donald Trump encouraged his supporters to ‘stop the steal’ with false claims of electoral fraud in the 2020 presidential elections.
“We are gravely concerned about the imminent threat to Brazil’s democratic institutions – and we stand vigilant to defend them ahead of 7 September and after. The people of Brazil have struggled for decades to secure democracy from military rule. Bolsonaro must not be permitted to rob them of it now.”
Other signatories include Ernesto Samper Pizano, a former president of Colombia, Cori Bush, a US Democrat House of Representatives member, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the French presidential candidate and Manon Aubry, the French MEP.
More than 5,000 police officers will reportedly be deployed to protect Congress amid fears that it could suffer the same fate as the US Capitol after Trump’s defeat. Leftist leaders have urged their followers to avoid clashes by not holding counterprotests, while the US embassy has told citizens to steer clear.
On Thursday, the chief justice of Brazil’s supreme court, Luiz Fux, said people should be aware of the “judicial consequences of their acts”, whatever their political leanings. “Freedom of expression does not entail violence and threats,” Fux warned.
Polls show 60% of voters will not vote for Bolsanaro in any circumstances in next year’s elections with voters furious at his chaotic handling of the Covid crisis.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro seeks big turnout at national day rallies
Slumping in the polls, Bolsonaro hopes to energise his far-right base as the threat of violence between supporters and opponents looms.
And September 7 is shaping up to be a turbulent day, with pro- and anti-Bolsonaro demonstrations scheduled in some of the country’s largest cities.
“The time has come to declare our independence for good, to say we will not allow some people in Brasilia to impose their will on us,” Bolsonaro told supporters in a speech last week. “The will that matters is yours.”
His words, “some people in Brasilia”, were widely read as a reference to the Supreme Court, which has ordered a series of investigations into Bolsonaro and his inner circle, notably over allegations of systematically spreading fake news from within the government.
Bolsonaro has responded by declaring all-out political war on justices he perceives as hostile.
He has signalled that the judges should consider Tuesday’s rallies an “ultimatum” – the latest in a long list of ominous warnings aimed at the legislature and the courts.
‘All or nothing’
Bolsonaro plans to attend rallies in both Brasilia and the economic capital Sao Paulo that day, which marks 199 years since Brazil declared independence from Portugal.
The 66-year-old ex-army captain, who is often compared with former US President Donald Trump, vowed to draw a crowd of more than two million to Sao Paulo’s Avenida Paulista.
That would be far bigger than his recent rallies, which have had turnout in the tens of thousands.
Bolsonaro is playing “all or nothing” in his fight with Brazi’s legislature, the courts and the electoral system, said political scientist Geraldo Monteiro of Rio de Janeiro State University. Bolsonaro has alleged without evidence that there is a risk of massive fraud in next year’s elections.
“Each side is looking to show what it’s got in its arsenal. The Bolsonaro camp is putting everything they’ve got into these rallies,” Monteiro told the AFP news agency.
“The question is whether they’ll get a significant number of people in the street. I think it will be a watershed moment. If the rallies are big, it will in some ways tip the scale in the president’s favour. If they’re not, the crisis will continue, but ‘Bolsonarismo’ might go into a downward spiral,” he added, referencing a term used to describe the Brazilian president’s ideological leanings.
‘Calculated risk’
Supreme Court Chief Justice Luiz Fux voiced concern on Thursday over the tone in which the rallies are being organised. “In a democracy, demonstrations are peaceful, and freedom of speech should not be synonymous with threats or violence,” he said.
Internationally, more than 150 left-leaning former presidents and party leaders signed an open letter criticising Bolsonaro for encouraging what they called an imitation of the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.
The demonstrations are “stoking fears of a coup d’etat in the world’s third-largest democracy”, the letter warned.
Hardcore Bolsonaro supporters at such rallies often include off-duty police and gun-toting fans of his tough talk, meaning there is a “real risk of violence”, said political consultant Andre Rosa.
“Bolsonaro supporters are very reactionary, they’re going to want to go to war,” he told AFP. “The president can’t control it if there’s violence. He’s taking a calculated risk.”
Security officials are trying to ensure the rival camps stay apart.
The pro-Bolsonaro march in Brasilia will be held on the Esplanade of Ministries, the avenue leading to the square flanked by the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court, which will be closed. The anti-Bolsonaro march in the capital, meanwhile, will depart from the capital’s iconic TV tower, about 3km (2 miles) away.
In Sao Paulo, the anti-Bolsonaro march will be held in the city centre, about 5km (3 miles) from where the president’s supporters will rally.
Security was reinforced in Brasilia on Monday and police started blocking access to the central mall. Some 5,000 police and military personnel will be on hand in the capital.
It is a risky strategy for Bolsonaro at a time when polls put his approval rating at an all-time low of about 23 percent and soaring unemployment and inflation have hampered the pandemic recovery of Latin America’s biggest economy.
The president also risks alienating key allies, such as speaker of Congress Arthur Lira, who has so far shielded Bolsonaro from scores of impeachment attempts. “If turmoil erupts, the president knows he’ll be the only one who loses,” Lira said.
SOURCE: AFP
Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Mon 6 Sep 2021 08.55 BST
The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, and his allies could be preparing to mount a military coup in Brazil, according to an influential group of former presidents, prime ministers and leading public figures on the left.
An open letter claims rallies that Bolsonaro followers are staging on Tuesday represent a danger to democracy and amount to an insurrection modelled on Donald Trump supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on 6 January.
They assert the nationwide marches by Bolsonaro supporters against the supreme court and Congress, involving white supremacist groups, military police, and public officials at every level of government, are “stoking fears of a coup in the world’s third largest democracy”.
Fears of violence on Brazil’s streets as millions rally to back Bolsonaro
Signatories include José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish former prime minister, Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister, Jeremy Corbyn, the former UK Labour leader, Fernando Lugo, the former Paraguayan president, Caroline Lucas, the British Green MP, and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, the Argentine Nobel laureate and human rights activist.
They point out that on 10 August, Bolsonaro “directed an unprecedented military parade through the capital city of Brasília, as his allies in Congress pushed sweeping reforms to the country’s electoral system that he says are critical before the presidential elections next year”.
The president himself said on 21 August that the marches were preparation for a “necessary countercoup” against Congress and the supreme court. His message claimed that Brazil’s “communist constitution” had taken away his power, and accused “the judiciary, the left, and a whole apparatus of hidden interests” of conspiring against him.
The open letter warns: “Members of Congress in Brazil have warned that the 7 September mobilisation has been modelled on the insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, when then-president Donald Trump encouraged his supporters to ‘stop the steal’ with false claims of electoral fraud in the 2020 presidential elections.
“We are gravely concerned about the imminent threat to Brazil’s democratic institutions – and we stand vigilant to defend them ahead of 7 September and after. The people of Brazil have struggled for decades to secure democracy from military rule. Bolsonaro must not be permitted to rob them of it now.”
Other signatories include Ernesto Samper Pizano, a former president of Colombia, Cori Bush, a US Democrat House of Representatives member, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the French presidential candidate and Manon Aubry, the French MEP.
More than 5,000 police officers will reportedly be deployed to protect Congress amid fears that it could suffer the same fate as the US Capitol after Trump’s defeat. Leftist leaders have urged their followers to avoid clashes by not holding counterprotests, while the US embassy has told citizens to steer clear.
On Thursday, the chief justice of Brazil’s supreme court, Luiz Fux, said people should be aware of the “judicial consequences of their acts”, whatever their political leanings. “Freedom of expression does not entail violence and threats,” Fux warned.
Polls show 60% of voters will not vote for Bolsanaro in any circumstances in next year’s elections with voters furious at his chaotic handling of the Covid crisis.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro seeks big turnout at national day rallies
Slumping in the polls, Bolsonaro hopes to energise his far-right base as the threat of violence between supporters and opponents looms.
Brazilian President Bolsonaro is seeking to energise his base in rallies on national day [File: Eraldo Peres/AP Photo]
6 Sep 2021
Fighting record-low poll numbers, a weakening economy and a judiciary he says is stacked against him, President Jair Bolsonaro is calling for huge rallies for Brazilian independence day on Tuesday, seeking to fire up his far-right base.
With polls putting Bolsonaro on track to lose badly to left-wing ex-leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in next year’s presidential elections, Bolsonaro is hoping to use the rally to energise his supporters.
6 Sep 2021
Fighting record-low poll numbers, a weakening economy and a judiciary he says is stacked against him, President Jair Bolsonaro is calling for huge rallies for Brazilian independence day on Tuesday, seeking to fire up his far-right base.
With polls putting Bolsonaro on track to lose badly to left-wing ex-leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in next year’s presidential elections, Bolsonaro is hoping to use the rally to energise his supporters.
And September 7 is shaping up to be a turbulent day, with pro- and anti-Bolsonaro demonstrations scheduled in some of the country’s largest cities.
“The time has come to declare our independence for good, to say we will not allow some people in Brasilia to impose their will on us,” Bolsonaro told supporters in a speech last week. “The will that matters is yours.”
His words, “some people in Brasilia”, were widely read as a reference to the Supreme Court, which has ordered a series of investigations into Bolsonaro and his inner circle, notably over allegations of systematically spreading fake news from within the government.
Bolsonaro has responded by declaring all-out political war on justices he perceives as hostile.
He has signalled that the judges should consider Tuesday’s rallies an “ultimatum” – the latest in a long list of ominous warnings aimed at the legislature and the courts.
‘All or nothing’
Bolsonaro plans to attend rallies in both Brasilia and the economic capital Sao Paulo that day, which marks 199 years since Brazil declared independence from Portugal.
The 66-year-old ex-army captain, who is often compared with former US President Donald Trump, vowed to draw a crowd of more than two million to Sao Paulo’s Avenida Paulista.
That would be far bigger than his recent rallies, which have had turnout in the tens of thousands.
Bolsonaro is playing “all or nothing” in his fight with Brazi’s legislature, the courts and the electoral system, said political scientist Geraldo Monteiro of Rio de Janeiro State University. Bolsonaro has alleged without evidence that there is a risk of massive fraud in next year’s elections.
“Each side is looking to show what it’s got in its arsenal. The Bolsonaro camp is putting everything they’ve got into these rallies,” Monteiro told the AFP news agency.
“The question is whether they’ll get a significant number of people in the street. I think it will be a watershed moment. If the rallies are big, it will in some ways tip the scale in the president’s favour. If they’re not, the crisis will continue, but ‘Bolsonarismo’ might go into a downward spiral,” he added, referencing a term used to describe the Brazilian president’s ideological leanings.
‘Calculated risk’
Supreme Court Chief Justice Luiz Fux voiced concern on Thursday over the tone in which the rallies are being organised. “In a democracy, demonstrations are peaceful, and freedom of speech should not be synonymous with threats or violence,” he said.
Internationally, more than 150 left-leaning former presidents and party leaders signed an open letter criticising Bolsonaro for encouraging what they called an imitation of the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.
The demonstrations are “stoking fears of a coup d’etat in the world’s third-largest democracy”, the letter warned.
Hardcore Bolsonaro supporters at such rallies often include off-duty police and gun-toting fans of his tough talk, meaning there is a “real risk of violence”, said political consultant Andre Rosa.
“Bolsonaro supporters are very reactionary, they’re going to want to go to war,” he told AFP. “The president can’t control it if there’s violence. He’s taking a calculated risk.”
Security officials are trying to ensure the rival camps stay apart.
The pro-Bolsonaro march in Brasilia will be held on the Esplanade of Ministries, the avenue leading to the square flanked by the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court, which will be closed. The anti-Bolsonaro march in the capital, meanwhile, will depart from the capital’s iconic TV tower, about 3km (2 miles) away.
In Sao Paulo, the anti-Bolsonaro march will be held in the city centre, about 5km (3 miles) from where the president’s supporters will rally.
Security was reinforced in Brasilia on Monday and police started blocking access to the central mall. Some 5,000 police and military personnel will be on hand in the capital.
It is a risky strategy for Bolsonaro at a time when polls put his approval rating at an all-time low of about 23 percent and soaring unemployment and inflation have hampered the pandemic recovery of Latin America’s biggest economy.
The president also risks alienating key allies, such as speaker of Congress Arthur Lira, who has so far shielded Bolsonaro from scores of impeachment attempts. “If turmoil erupts, the president knows he’ll be the only one who loses,” Lira said.
SOURCE: AFP
