During Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency, the far right appropriated various national symbols, including Brazil’s Independence Day on September 7. This day transformed into a demonstration platform for hundreds of thousands of Bolsonaro’s supporters who took to the streets to back the former president, protest against the Supreme Court, and advocate for a military coup.
The ex-president aimed to replicate the enthusiastic turnout of previous years, especially following the Supreme Court’s prohibition of the social media platform X in Brazil due to its non-compliance with legal representation requirements in the country.
As his supporters once again lament what they perceive as a “dictatorship of the court system” emerging in Brazil, this year’s September 7 far-right rallies will not only focus on Mr. Bolsonaro. The spotlight will also be on Pablo Marçal, a surprise candidate for the São Paulo mayorship.
Conservative groups are eager to see if Mr. Marçal will participate in the rally and what statements or actions he might take if he does attend. Even in his absence, Marçal could potentially overshadow the former president.
Mr. Bolsonaro reached out to Mr. Marçal to invite him to the gathering, even while officially endorsing incumbent mayor Ricardo Nunes, who is running for re-election and holds significant support.