Thousands of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took to the streets in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, and Sao Paulo on Sunday, just days before Brazil’s Supreme Court delivers its ruling in his coup plot trial. Demonstrators waved Brazilian and U.S. flags, signaling support from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called the case against Bolsonaro a “witch hunt.”
Bolsonaro, currently under house arrest, faces criminal charges for attempting to remain in power after losing the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. If convicted, the 70-year-old ex-army captain could face years in prison. Bolsonaro has denied all allegations.
Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, his eldest son, told crowds in Rio that his father would face the trial head-on, while supporters in Brasilia carried pro-Bolsonaro banners. Opponents, however, staged counter-demonstrations demanding his conviction, recalling the January 8, 2023 storming of Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace by Bolsonaro loyalists, an event often compared to the U.S. Capitol riot.
Adding to the political tension, centrist and opposition leaders in Congress are debating a sweeping amnesty bill for all involved in the alleged coup, including Bolsonaro himself. Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, a strong advocate for amnesty, argues forgiveness is necessary to “pacify the country.” His push is widely seen as a strategic move to secure Bolsonaro’s backing for a potential 2026 presidential run, though Freitas has denied such ambitions.
Bolsonaro has already been barred from running for office until 2030 but continues to express interest in returning to power in 2026. With the Supreme Court ruling expected by Friday, Brazil’s political future remains deeply divided between calls for justice and demands for reconciliation.