Election-banned former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has condemned his ban on running for office until 2030 as a “denial of democracy,” while speaking to a mass protest rally in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday (March 16). The far-right president, banned from running for public office, also demanded amnesty for hundreds of supporters found guilty of involvement in the January 8, 2023, violence in Brasília.
Bolsonaro’s Attempt at a Trump-Style Comeback
The 69-year-old politician is seeking to mount a political comeback, comparing himself to former US President Donald Trump, who also battled court challenges while running for office.
“I want to make clear to all those who do not like me in Brasília: elections without Bolsonaro is a denial of democracy in Brazil,” Bolsonaro stated at the rally, mobilizing his base.
His supporters feel he is unfairly targeted by the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
“They are attempting to imprison him, in a cowardly manner, so he cannot be elected, but they will fail,” said Patricia Santos, age 41, a Bolsonaro supporter.
Jose de Souza Vitorino, a retired military man, agreed, saying he came to the rally to “leave a better Brazil for my children.”
January 8 Riots and Bolsonaro’s Court Issues
Supporters of Bolsonaro besieged the presidential palace, Congress, and Supreme Court in January 2023 after he had lost the election to Lula da Silva. The rioters called for a military coup to oust Lula, who had assumed power just days prior.
Even though Bolsonaro was in the United States when the riots broke out, prosecutors believe he took part in coup-plotting. On March 25, Brazil’s Supreme Court will rule if there is sufficient evidence to send him to trial. He faces more than 40 years behind bars if convicted.
Like Trump, Bolsonaro also claims he is the victim of political persecution. Both leaders have also lived through assassination plots on their lives while pursuing political office.
While Bolsonaro battles in the courts and mobilizes his base, Brazil prepares for a potentially volatile political confrontation.
