Thousands of Flávio Bolsonaro supporters rally in Brazil
In São Paulo, Brazil, about 28,500 people gathered on Paulista Avenue for a conservative rally in support of right-wing presidential candidate Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. The number of participants was estimated by researchers from the Monitor do Debate Político project at the University of São Paulo. The event was held on Brazil’s Independence Day ahead of the first round of the presidential election scheduled for October 4, Daily Maverick reports.
Campaign against Lula and Moraes
The organizers described the demonstration as a protest against the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. During his speech, Flávio Bolsonaro said that the alliance between Lula and Moraes would end, and that voting for the incumbent president would mean supporting the judge.
A Quaest poll released on Monday showed that, in the event of a second round, Lula and Bolsonaro each have 41% support. The second round, if needed, is scheduled for October 25.
Flávio Bolsonaro spoke from a truck equipped with sound equipment alongside other conservative politicians. He sought to revive the format of mass street rallies associated with his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro. A similar event last year drew about 42,000 people, while an estimated 185,000 supporters attended a Jair Bolsonaro rally in early 2024.
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Conflict in the Supreme Court
The rally took place amid a conflict in the Supreme Court. Justice André Mendonça, appointed by Jair Bolsonaro, published a report that raised questions about Moraes’ alleged contacts with a banker accused of running a multibillion-dollar fraud scheme. This prompted calls to investigate Moraes’ actions.
In response, Moraes sought an investigation into Mendonça over alleged abuse of power. Bolsonaro’s vice-presidential candidate, Congressman Alfredo Gaspar, also linked Moraes to Lula in his speech. Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest and cannot run for office, claims that he has become a victim of political persecution by Moraes.
On that day, Lula attended the traditional Independence Day military parade in Brasília but did not deliver a speech there. In a televised address the day before, he stressed the need to protect Brazil’s sovereignty and democracy.
