Summoned by the Bolsonaro federal deputy (-MG), supporters of (PL) gathered on Avenida Paulista, this Sunday afternoon (1st), against the president (PT) and the ministers of the (Supreme Federal Court). The demonstration, however, had a strong electoral tone in support of the pre-candidacy of senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) for the Presidency.
The demonstration, with the motto “Fora, Lula, Moraes and Toffoli”, in reference to the ministers and, also defended the former president’s freedom, in addition to amnesty for those arrested for the attacks on the headquarters of Power on January 8, 2023.
The event was scheduled for 2pm, but was delayed due to the absence of the senator (PL-RJ), pre-candidate for the Presidency of the Republic. The presidential candidate arrived at the scene wearing a bulletproof vest and was greeted with shouts from supporters, to whom he waved from the top of the sound car.
“We are here fighting for a Brazil that was doing well under President Bolsonaro, there was this impasse in the middle of the way. We are going to return to the path of prosperity that Bolsonaro was taking us to. We are not going to allow Lula to throw Brazil off the cliff like he is going to do… there is no way. We are going to win this,” he told reporters.
In his speech, Flávio once again targeted the President of the Republic, who should be his main opponent in the October elections. He said that Lula enjoys a luxurious life with Janja and that he has spent billions of dollars on his corporate card. “This is the Lula who defends the poor,” he declared.
Flávio also criticized Lulinha, the president’s son, who had the breach of bank secrecy approved by the INSS CPMI this week.
The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad (PT), who is tipped to be the opponent of Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) in the dispute for the government of São Paulo, also came into the senator’s sights. In his speech, Flávio called the minister “Taxad” and asked “go back, Paulo Guedes”, in reference to the Economy Minister of the Bolsonaro government.
Without naming any minister by name, Flávio said he was in favor of impeaching “any Supreme Court minister who fails to comply with the law.”
“Our target was never the Supreme Court, which is fundamental to democracy, but they are destroying democracy,” he said, adding that it was necessary to form a majority in the Senate to achieve the impeachment of STF ministers.
At the same time, he sought to signal unity on the right by directly praising Nikolas, who had been criticized by Eduardo for allegedly not getting involved in his brother’s pre-candidacy.
“Nikolas, thank you very much for existing and for being with us shoulder to shoulder”, said Flávio.
The senator also praised Tarcísio —who has agendas in Germany and, therefore, did not attend— and the city’s mayor, Ricardo Nunes (MDB), as well as the governors of Goiás and Minas Gerais, Ronaldo Caiado (PSD) and Romeu Zema (Novo).
“This proves that this is not an electoral act. That we, pre-candidates, together, are not thinking about voting, but about what is best for the country”, he declared.
This Sunday’s act takes place in the middle of , after the former federal deputy (PL) stated that he considered the support of Nikolas and the former first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro (PL), for Flávio’s pre-candidacy to be insufficient.
Eduardo participated in the event via video, speaking to the protesters from inside a car, in a parking lot, with two children sitting at the back of the vehicle. He thanked his supporters and said that electing Flávio would mean amnesty for Bolsonaro and those convicted of the attacks on January 8th.
“This is not about a political party, it’s not about the election. The election is just the tool, the perhaps fastest way for us to bring Justice that will be translated into amnesty, God willing, with the election of Flávio Bolsonaro president and with a group of strong and brave senators and federal deputies”, he stated.
Despite Flávio’s leading role in the event, the national president of the PL, Valdemar Costa Neto, denied that the protest was electorally motivated and stated that the main objective was to ask for Bolsonaro’s release.
“Everything we can do to defend Bolsonaro, we are doing,” he told journalists upon arriving at Paulista.
The speeches were made on an electric trio located on the corner of Peixoto Gomide Street, close to Masp. State deputy Tomé Abduch (Republicans), coordinator of the “Nas Ruas” movement, said that the organization cost around R$130,000, raised through collective financing.
At around 1pm, protesters began filling the blocks around Masp with posters calling for “Moraes out”, “justice and freedom” and “Bolsonaro free”. Throughout the afternoon, the protest filled four blocks, between Itapeva and Ministro Rocha Azevedo streets.
The USP Political Debate Monitor and the NGO More in Common estimated the presence of 20,400 people at the demonstration at its peak time, around 3:53 pm. The margin of error is 12%, which means that the audience was 18 thousand to 22.9 thousand people.
According to the count, made from aerial photos analyzed with artificial intelligence software, the demonstration had less than half the audience of — at the time, .
A banner was displayed at the entrance to Trianon Park calling the STF the “Supreme Federal Tyrant”. In front of Masp, an inflatable doll of Bolsonaro was positioned with a gag in its mouth, with the words “speak for me” written on it. Another poster, next to the electric trio, said “faith in Eduardo Bolsonaro”.
Nikolas, in his speech, said “Toffoli out”. Other politicians, like Flávio, were instructed not to mention the minister.
The Bolsonaro deputy called Moraes a “stupid”, said “as I’m a believer, I can’t swear”, but then called the minister a “stupid”.
“Alexandre de Moraes’s destiny is not impeachment, no. Alexandre de Moraes’s destiny is jail”, added Nikolas.
He also announced a donation to help the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, where Juiz de Fora is located, and asked for a minute of silence for the victims of the rains.
Presidential candidate, governor Ronaldo Caiado (PSD) said that the right cannot lose this year’s elections.
“I believe that in 2026 one of us will get there, and whoever gets there will have the courage to be able to dismantle all of this. That’s what I say. The problem is that we can’t lose the elections. That’s the main fact. And whoever sits in that chair has to have the moral authority and personal courage to make the changes that Brazil wants,” he told the press before getting on the electric trio.
Zema criticized the Lula government and gave a brief speech, without mentioning the tragedy affecting his state.
“Brazil can no longer take this untouchable party,” he declared.
Nikolas and Zema participated in the Minas Gerais city of Juiz de Fora in recent days. The tragedy killed more than 60 people and prompted Lula to go to the municipality, which is governed by the PT, this weekend.
The president this Friday (27) for not having presented any project to use the resources made available by the PAC (Growth Acceleration Program) in the state. THE Sheet showed that the funding in Juiz de Fora is blocked.
The mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes (MDB), also attended the event. He arrived after the speeches had started and said that “the team has been chosen and Flávio has been chosen”.
“You have no doubt that I, Tarcísio, will be working day and night to rescue what is written on our flag: order and progress”, he declared.
In an fiery speech against Moraes, pastor Silas Malafaia called the minister a dictator and accused him of corruption in the Banco Master case, stating that the magistrate’s wife had a contract with the bank. The law firm Barci de Moraes, where Viviane Barci de Moraes and the couple’s two children work, was hired by the bank to represent it in court.
Amid internal friction in the PL, federal deputy Rosana Valle spoke in defense of former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, who has been criticized by Eduardo and some of his closest allies.
“Michelle Bolsonaro is with our president bringing faith and courage”, stated Rosana, which is a name defended by Michelle to be a candidate for the Senate in São Paulo.
Federal deputy, Mário Frias (PL-SP) said, upon arrival, that the event is a “demonstration of strength” by the right in defense of Bolsonaro.
Before the act ended, Nikolas asked Michelle Bolsonaro for a round of applause in recognition of those who “are making lunch boxes” to take to her husband in prison. He also led a prayer of the Lord’s Prayer before dispersing the crowd shortly before 5pm.
