Thousands of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gathered on Copacabana Beach on Sunday to show their support for the far-right politician who has been charged with plotting a coup.
Bolsonaro and his closest allies took part in the rally, during which demonstrators also called on Congress to grant amnesty to people jailed for their role in the January 8, 2023, riots that attacked government buildings in the Brazilian capital.
Many participants, dressed in yellow and green T-shirts with Brazilian symbols, chanted and held signs with the slogan “Amnesty now!”
Local media reported that about 18,000 people attended the rally, according to a monitoring project by the University of Sao Paulo. Bolsonaro's allies had hoped to attract a crowd of one million.
Copacabana has often been the scene of rallies held by Mr Bolsonaro when he sought to demonstrate his political power.
Last month, Brazil’s attorney general formally charged Mr Bolsonaro with attempting a coup to stay in power after his defeat in the 2022 election by the incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Part of that plot, the charges say, included plans to poison Mr Lula and shoot Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is leading several cases against him.
After losing to Mr Lula, Mr Bolsonaro refused to concede defeat and left for the United States days before the end of his term.
Bolsonaro denies all charges and claims he is a victim of political persecution. His lawyers are asking for the case to be referred to the full Supreme Court, where the former president appointed two of the 11 justices.
If found guilty, the former president could face up to ten years in prison.
Speaking at the rally, Bolsonaro again denied the accusations.
“Nobody believes this story. The only reason this coup story wasn't perfect for them is because I was in the United States. If I were here, I would still be in jail or maybe already dead. I would be a problem for them, whether I was in jail or dead,” he said.
The pro-Bolsonaro demonstration came nine days before a panel of five of Brazil's 11 Supreme Court justices meets in Brasilia to decide whether the former president and several of his allies will be tried on five counts.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
