São Paulo, Brazil – On the brink of becoming a defendant in a case where he stands accused of five crimes—including attempting to overthrow the government, running a criminal organization, and seeking to abolish Brazil’s democratic order—former President Jair Bolsonaro led a demonstration along Copacabana Beach, one of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic landmarks.
Bolsonaro is one of 34 individuals formally charged by Brazil’s Prosecutor General’s Office. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the indictment on March 25, a decision that could officially make him a defendant in the case.
The rally drew an estimated 18,000 people, according to projections by the Monitor of Public Debate, a research initiative at the University of São Paulo. The Rio de Janeiro police, however, which reports to Governor Cláudio Castro—a key Bolsonaro ally—released a statement on X claiming the turnout surpassed 400,000. In addition to Castro, three other governors, as well as federal lawmakers and senators, attended the event, which centered on calls for a broad amnesty for those involved in the violent attacks on Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court, and Presidential Palace on January 8, 2023.
In Congress, Bolsonaro’s allies are pushing legislation that would grant unconditional clemency to individuals accused of supporting, financing, or directly participating in the January 8 riots or related activities before or after the attacks. The proposed amnesty would apply to the more than 480 individuals already convicted by the Supreme Court, some of whom received prison sentences of up to 17 years, as well as Bolsonaro himself.
Standing atop a sound truck, the far-right leader railed against the accusations and dismissed speculation that he might flee the country to avoid a possible conviction and prison sentence.
“What do they want? A conviction. If humble people are getting 17 years, that’s just to justify giving me 28,” Bolsonaro said. “I’m not leaving Brazil. What kind of coup is this where I have to prove I didn’t stage one? It should be the other way around—they should have to prove that I did. Their story didn’t work out the way they wanted because I was in the U.S. If I had been here, I would either be in prison or dead by now. I’ll be a problem for them, whether behind bars or dead. But I will keep the flame of hope and liberation burning for our people”, Bolsonaro said.
In São Paulo, Bolsonaro supporters gathered along Avenida Paulista, outside the Museum of Art, a traditional site for political demonstrations. Unlike the Rio rally, the event featured no speeches from politicians—only chants decrying the legal cases against the former president. The turnout was significantly smaller. While no official estimates were released, Brazil Reports observed that the crowd did not appear to exceed 500 people. The highlight of the protest was the inflation of a giant balloon caricaturing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in prison attire.
Featured Image: Pro-Bolsonaro demonstration in Rio de Janeiro. Photo credit: Rio de Janeiro Police via X
