(Sao Paulo) Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday called the Supreme Court judge who ordered the suspension of the social network X a “dictator,” during a demonstration in Sao Paulo that drew fewer supporters than in the past.
Tens of thousands of people were nevertheless gathered on Paulista Avenue, the emblematic artery of the largest megalopolis in Latin America, dressed in yellow and green, the colours of the Brazilian flag.
On the occasion of the national independence day, and one month before the municipal elections in Brazil, the slogans of this gathering were the defense of “democracy” and “freedom”, but also the dismissal of Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who last week blocked access in Brazil to the platform belonging to Elon Musk.
PHOTO CARLA CARNIEL, REUTERS
Saturday’s protest had been called by Jair Bolsonaro even before the old Twitter account was suspended
“We must put a stop to those who exceed the limits of our Constitution,” Bolsonaro chanted from a podium.
He then mentioned the impeachment request against Judge Moraes that should be filed on Monday in the Senate by right-wing parliamentarians. This move, whose outcome is currently very uncertain, is supported by publications by Elon Musk.
“I hope that the Senate will put a stop to Alexandre de Moraes, this dictator who is doing even more harm to Brazil than Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva himself,” the Brazilian president, against whom he failed in his attempt at re-election in 2022.
According to estimates by researchers at the University of Sao Paulo based on the analysis of aerial photographs by a computer program, around 45,000 people were present on Saturday to listen to the far-right leader.
This is almost four times less than a rally in February which brought together 185,000 demonstrators in the same place, according to the same method of calculation, but more than another in Rio de Janeiro in April (around 32,000 people).
PHOTO ADRIANO MACHADO, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Alexandre de Moraes, judge of the Supreme Court of Brazil
“Censorship”
The bête noire of the Bolsonaristas, Alexandre de Moraes was president of the Superior Electoral Tribunal when the former head of state was sentenced last year to eight years of ineligibility for his attacks without evidence against the electronic ballot box system. He also leads most of the multiple investigations targeting Mr. Bolsonaro.
“Who is the criminal? Bolsonaro or Alexandre de Moraes? Alexandre de Moraes must be removed from office and imprisoned, the criminals must go to prison,” said influential pastor Silas Malafaia, one of the organizers of the demonstration, on the stage.
Last week, Judge Moraes ordered the suspension of X, criticizing the platform for ignoring a series of court rulings related to the fight against disinformation.
“I am here to demand the dismissal of Alexandre de Moraes, what he is doing is unacceptable. He ignores the Constitution and he makes the law in his own way, ignoring our Constitution,” Emilia Lapolli, a 35-year-old architect who was present from the start of the demonstration, told AFP.
“I want to protest against the madness that is happening in our country right now, we are being censored!” said Sergio Luiz Barreira, a retired computer scientist.
Saturday’s demonstration had been called even before the suspension of X, a privileged arena for an ultra-polarized debate in Brazil.
Many signs with Elon Musk’s image have been placed along Paulista Avenue.
The right, which readily makes the billionaire its champion, denounced the measure in the name of freedom of expression.
In February, a pro-Bolsonaro demonstration turned into a show of force, drawing 185,000 people, according to an estimate by researchers at the University of São Paulo. Another in Rio in April was less successful.
But President Lula’s left-wing camp defended the drastic decision.
PHOTO UESLEI MARCELINO, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
“We will always be intolerant of anyone, regardless of wealth, who defies Brazilian law,” Lula warned in a speech on the eve of the national holiday, without naming the businessman.
Scandal
Saturday’s meeting comes at a time when the government has been weakened by a scandal. Accused of sexual harassment by several women, including a minister, Human Rights Minister Silvio Almeida, who denies everything, was dismissed on Friday evening.
Lula opened the official parade in Brasilia on Saturday morning in the presidential Rolls-Royce, before taking his place in the official tribune, a few meters from Judge Moraes, present along with many ministers, parliamentarians and other representatives of the judiciary.
Mr Bolsonaro had asked his supporters not to take part in commemoration ceremonies organised by the government.