Supporters rally in São Paulo as Bolsonaro faces trial

Thousands of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gathered in São Paulo on Sunday in a show of solidarity, just weeks after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that he will stand trial over accusations of plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.

Waving Brazilian flags and donning the green and yellow colors long associated with the Bolsonaro movement, demonstrators filled Avenida Paulista, one of the city’s main thoroughfares. Many held signs reading “We trust Bolsonaro” and “Down with tyranny,” expressing their belief that the former president is being unfairly targeted by the judiciary.

The protest comes amid intensifying legal troubles for Bolsonaro, who lost re-election to leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October 2022. Federal prosecutors allege that Bolsonaro and several close allies attempted to sow distrust in the electoral system and laid the groundwork for a possible coup to remain in power.

Earlier this year, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court accepted charges against Bolsonaro, including criminal conspiracy and incitement. Investigators say he was involved in meetings to discuss rejecting the election results, and they are probing connections to the January 8, 2023 riots, in which supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília.

Bolsonaro, who denies any wrongdoing, did not attend Sunday’s rally in person but addressed the crowd through a pre-recorded video message. “I have always respected the Constitution,” he said. “What we are witnessing is political persecution. But we will not be silenced.”

Political analysts say the rally is part of a broader strategy by Bolsonaro and his allies to mobilize his base ahead of the trial and frame the legal proceedings as an attack on democratic dissent.

While Sunday’s demonstration remained largely peaceful, a heavy police presence underscored concerns about public order, given the violent unrest seen last year. Authorities reported no major incidents.

The trial, which is expected to begin later this year, could have far-reaching implications for Bolsonaro’s political future. If convicted, he may face prison time and be barred from holding public office for years to come.

For now, the former president continues to command fierce loyalty among a significant portion of the electorate—loyalty that was on full display in the heart of Brazil’s largest city.