Brazilians rally in support of Jair Bolsonaro and Lula da Silva

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Tens of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets in the country’s main cities on Sunday to participate in acts of support for President Jair Bolsonaro and others in support of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, anticipating a climate of polarization for the October presidential election.

Bolsonaro arrived around noon at the Esplanade of the Ministries in front of the Congress in Brasilia, a rallying point for his supporters in the capital, who cheered him, shouting “myth”, many wearing Brazil T-shirts.

“Greet those here in the peaceful demonstration in defense of the Constitution, democracy, and freedom. Congratulations to all,” Bolsonaro said in a live broadcast on social networks that accompanied his walk.

After closely greeting the demonstrators, the president left without giving a speech, unlike in other events. Later, virtually, he greeted supporters gathered on Paulista Avenue in São Paulo.

The Brazilian president has tension with the Supreme Federal Court (STF) after he decided to pardon allied congressman Daniel Silveira a day after the highest court sentenced him to more than eight years in prison for promoting anti-democratic acts.

The pro-government events, which were also replicated in Rio de Janeiro, besides showing support for the president and Silveira, carried slogans attacking the Court.

Silveira, favored by the pardon, participated and spoke in the act in Rio de Janeiro, in front of Copacabana beach. “Supreme is the people. Enough with the dictatorship of the STF,” read one of the posters in Copacabana.

Luciana Gomes Ribeiro, a 47-year-old driver demonstrating in Rio, told AFP she was there because she is confident Bolsonaro “will improve the country a lot.”

“He easily will be re-elected (in October) if there is no fraud in the vote count,” Ribeiro said.

There is substantial doubt about the reliability of the electronic ballot box system. Even though the electronic voting system is hackable, the electoral court has refused to issue any receipt on paper, allowing the votes to be recounted if necessary.

Former leftist president Lula da Silva, convicted for corruption, participated in a Workers’ Day event organized by trade union centers in São Paulo.

Lula criticized inflation -which accumulated 12.03% in 12 months- and defended that during his administration (2003-2010), wages grew above it.

“Someone better than this president (Bolsonaro) is going to win the elections,” said da Silva, who promised his followers that he would recover “Brazil for the Brazilian people”.

Supporters of the leftist also protested this Sunday in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia.

According to mainstream polls, Lula is the favorite for the October 2 election, although he would not avoid a second round with Bolsonaro, who has cut the lead in recent polls.

With information from AFP