On Sunday, Brazilians celebrated their country's independence from Portugal as they do every year on 7 September: with patriotism, military parades, flag-waving and churrascos – Brazilian barbecues. But with a verdict imminent in the trial on coup charges of former President Jair Bolsonaro, this year the day was marked by rival rallies. Thousands took to the streets chanting slogans about freedom: some in defence of democracy, others in defence of the ex-president who stands accused of trying to overthrow it. On Tuesday, five Supreme Court justices will start to deliver their verdicts one by one on whether Jair Bolsonaro masterminded a coup to cling to power after losing the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The allegations include proposing a coup to military commanders, knowing of a plot to assassinate President-elect Lula da Silva and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, and inciting supporters to attack government buildings on 8 January 2023 after casting doubt on the electoral system. Bolsonaro denies the charges, calling them politically motivated, a view shared by his supporters – and US President Donald Trump, who has labeled the trial political persecution. As tensions mount, both sides continue to clash over the future of democracy in Brazil.
Bolsonaro's Coup Trial Splits Brazil: Protests Erupt Amid Independence Day
Bolsonaro's Coup Trial Splits Brazil: Protests Erupt Amid Independence Day
As Brazil celebrates its independence, the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro over coup charges ignites fierce protests and debate about democracy in the nation.
On Brazil's Independence Day, rival rallies erupt as the trial of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro over coup charges approaches a verdict. While supporters march for his freedom, opponents rally against him, reflecting deep political divisions within the country. Bolsonaro is accused of attempting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election, a claim he decries as politically motivated. The trial’s implications for Brazil's democracy and the Supreme Court's role spark heated discussions about justice, freedom, and national identity in a country still healing from past dictatorship.
