In a powerful display of unity and defiance, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro led a rally in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, on Sunday. This was a strategic move to demonstrate his continued influence over the country’s right-wing politics amidst mounting legal challenges and opposition from the Supreme Court.
Supporters, donned in Brazil’s national colors of green and yellow, filled three blocks of Sao Paulo’s Paulista Avenue at the start of the demonstration. The presence of numerous conservative congressmen and governors further underscored Bolsonaro’s enduring hold on the Brazilian right.
Bolsonaro has been relatively quiet politically since his election defeat in October 2022. However, he recently rallied his supporters to take to the streets after the Supreme Court ordered him to surrender his passport as part of a criminal investigation into an alleged insurrection attempt on January 8, 2023. Federal police have accused several of Bolsonaro’s closest allies of plotting a coup d’état with military support. Bolsonaro has vehemently denied these allegations.
In a video message released two weeks prior to the rally, Bolsonaro emphasized that he wanted “a photo of all of you because you are the most important people of this event.” He aimed to showcase their unity and shared concerns to Brazil and the world.
The former president made his entrance at Paulista Avenue half an hour before the rally began. He was joined by prominent politicians such as Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas and Goias Governor Ronaldo Caiado. Both are considered potential candidates for the 2026 presidential election by right-wing supporters.
This was the first major conservative rally since Bolsonaro left office at the end of 2022. His decision to relocate to Florida coupled with crackdowns on participants in January riots had somewhat dampened enthusiasm within his movement. However, his return to Brazil in April and recent calls for action have reinvigorated his supporters.
Bia Kicis, a congress member and close ally of Bolsonaro, stated that his call to action had emboldened supporters to return to the streets. “Now, he made it very clear, put his face and showed: Let’s go to the street,” she said in a phone interview before the rally.
Despite being barred from seeking or holding public office until at least 2030 due to allegations of making false claims about Brazil’s voting system, Bolsonaro remains a formidable figure in right-wing politics. He is expected to play a significant role in shaping the future of this movement.
However, more than a dozen federal investigations into potential crimes ranging from illegal sale of luxury jewelry received during his presidency to falsification of vaccine records have raised concerns among even his closest allies about possible arrest.
In January, police raided the home of Bolsonaro’s son Carlos, a Rio de Janeiro city councilman and long-time adviser to his father. This was part of an investigation into alleged misuse of Brazil’s spy agency.