Marches in Brazil: Bolsonaro threatens Supreme Court again | Brazilian democracy on hold

In the midst of massive pro-government mobilizations, the President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, once again threatened democratic institutions, promptly to the Supreme Court of Justice, for giving the green light to investigations against him for false information campaigns and for repeated threats against democracy.

“We cannot accept more political prisons in our Brazil. Either the head of this power (the Court) supervises his own, or this power can suffer what we do not want ”, Bolsonaro harangued his supporters in a clear coup message.

In the name of “freedom”, the president addressed his message to Judge Alexandre de Moraes. “We don’t want to fight with any power, but we cannot allow one person to disrupt our democracy and endanger our freedom,” he said.

Bolsonaro A helicopter flew over the area where thousands of demonstrators were concentrated in Brasilia, and later he crossed the Esplanade des Ministères, an avenue where the seats of the three powers are concentrated. In addition to Brasilia, Bolsonaro plans to travel to São Paulo this afternoon, where another of the more massive protests is expected.

The March of the Bolsonarists

Thousands of supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro began to gather from Tuesday morning in different parts of Brazil on Independence Day. The day began in a climate of tension due to the appeal of the Brazilian president to storm the palace of the Federal Supreme Court, in Brasilia, in retaliation for having opened an investigation against him.

Public buildings woke up protected by major security operations.

Bolsonaro started the day with an official flag raising ceremony at the Alvorada Palace, the residence of the Head of State. On the symbolic esplanade of the ministries, several thousand people gathered to wave Bolsonaro flags, pray and demand the dismissal of the judges of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

“I came to fight for our freedom, to rid the country of this dirty bunch of corrupt politicians who are in the STF. Bolsonaro has our support to remove them, ”said security guard Márcio Souza, 45, who wore a yellow T-shirt with the president’s face stamped on it.

On Monday evening, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the central region of the capital. After breaking through a police blockade, many of them entered with trucks and other vehicles on the avenue leading to Congress, to the Federal Supreme Court and other government buildings.

Rebellion

“We have just invaded! The police could not contain the people! And tomorrow we will invade the STF,” shouted one of Bolsonaro’s supporters last night in a video released by local media.

Although they say the purpose of the marches is to defend “freedom,” many protesters who support the president and who have organized themselves through social media are also preaching attack on democratic institutions.

Some even call for a “military intervention” ordered by the 66-year-old president, a former army captain nostalgic for the military dictatorship (1964-1985).

Bolsonarist Ultimatum

Bolsonaro has claimed in recent days that Massive mobilisations expected to send an “ultimatum” to the judges of the Supreme Court that they opened several investigations against him and his entourage, among others for disseminating false information. He also mentioned the possibility of an institutional “rupture”.

The ex-paratrooper, whose popularity is at an all-time low largely due to his handling of the pandemic and economic crisis, participated in the morning protests in Brasilia and the afternoon will be in São Paulo , where he hopes to gather “millions” in the iconic Paulista Avenue.

Three kilometers away, in Vale do Anhangabau, the main opposition demonstration of the megalopolis is programmed under the slogan “Out with Bolsonaro”.

Police participation in the marches

According to a poll published on Sunday by O Globo, 30% of the police intended to go out on the street on Tuesday, although regulations prevent them from participating in political demonstrations, even on their days off.

Bolsonaro openly criticized judges and governors last week who announced measures to prevent police from attending the marches.

“It is a crime (to ban the police demonstration), worthy of a dictatorship. They want to reduce the movement. But a plainclothes policeman on leave can contribute to the security of the event,” he said. declared.