“Go out to the streets, you still have time, dressed in green and yellow”, the colors of the Brazilian flag, launched the ultra-conservative president before the start of the acts in statements to TV Brasil. “What is at stake is our freedomour future,” he added, in a veiled allusion to the October 2 elections.
The opposition has accused Bolsonaro of “usurping” the national holiday for electoral purposes. Last year, Independence Day was marked by demonstrations in his favor, with coup slogans and with the president swearing that “only God” could remove him from power.
The polls show him, however, behind the former left-wing president Lula da Silva facing the more polarized elections in the recent history of Brazil.
Military parades in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro
Escorted by a tank, a smiling Bolsonaro arrived at the parade in the classic black presidential Rolls Royce, with the presidential sash on his chest, and accompanied by the first lady, Michelle Bolsonaroand several children.
Then the president got out of the vehicle and continued on foot, closely greeting thousands of people stationed to follow the military parade, which was joined by several tractors belonging to Bolsonarista supporters. “Myth, myth!“, Shouted his supporters, who gave that nickname to the ultraconservative.
The military parade, which had been canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the covid-19 pandemic in Brazil, it was developed under an exceptional security scheme.
A demonstration in favor of Bolsonaro will start later in Brasilia at 1:00 p.m. (same time in Argentina). In the afternoon, all the lights will be on Rio de Janeiro and its beach Copacabanaone of the most emblematic tourist spots in Brazil.
Traditionally, the military parade in Rio takes place about 15 km away, on Avenida Presidente Vargas, in the center of the city.
But the head of state insisted that this year the soldiers march in the place where Bolsonarist demonstrations usually take place. There will be no armored vehicles near the beach, but warships in the ocean and military aircraft in the sky, as well as skydiving demonstrations.
Bolsonaro’s show of force
President Jair Bolsonaro is scheduled to greet a crowd of motorcyclists who have scheduled a procession to Copacabana, and then he will harangu the protesters on a large platform rented by pastors allied with powerful evangelical churches.
The tycoons of agroindustry They have also contributed financially to the organization of events in the country, according to the local press.
An intense campaign was carried out on social networks to gather as many protesters as possible and the ‘youtubers‘ Bolsonarists launched appeals for donations online.
Bolsonaro expects “a great show of force to retain their votersbut also to seduce others who are more in the center,” said Paulo Baia, professor of political science at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
In order not to scare away moderate voters, the head of state asked his most enthusiastic supporters to avoid banners and slogans demanding a military intervention to close the Federal Supreme Court (STF)which opened several investigations against Bolsonaro, especially for spreading false information.
According to the latest survey by the Ipec institute (formerly Ibope), published this week, Lula maintains a comfortable advantage, with 44% voting intention, compared to 31% for Bolsonaro, although the gap has narrowed in recent weeks.
Source: Ambito
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