Raising Israeli flag, Bolsonaro denies coup, asks for clean slate
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The right-wing former president says that all he "seeks is pacification, it is erasing the past."
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Former President Jair Bolsonaro raising an Israeli flag during an address to supporters in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, February 25, 2024. (AFP)
Tens of thousands of people, many of whom were raising Israeli flags, marched in Brazil's Sao Paulo to show support to the former right-wing President Jair Bolsanaro, who gave a live address holding a flag himself.
The attendees protested President Lula da Silva's recent remarks against the Israeli occupation regarding the genocide in Gaza, which led to "Israel" labeling him as "persona non grata" after which Brasilia recalled its ambassador to the entity.
🇧🇷🇮🇱 Today, São Paulo witnessed its largest demonstration in years, with people rallying in support of Bolsonaro and Israel. This comes in response to the recent statement by Lula da Silva, comparing the Gaza conflict with the Holocaust.
— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) February 25, 2024
I am still puzzled why Brazilian… pic.twitter.com/1tdsvb5TCH
Bolsanaro lost the presidential elections to popular leader da Silva in 2023 following a tense political campaigning period between both parties.
In response to his defeat, his supporters blocked main roads and set up protests in front of military barracks in an attempt to influence the military into preventing Lula from taking office on January 1.
Things got worse when hundreds of his supporters stormed the country's top public institutions, including the presidential palace, Congress, and Supreme Court.
'What I seek is pacification'
Bolsanaro was charged with attempting a coup without receiving a sentence on this case and was later barred by Brazil's federal electoral court from holding public office until 2030 for his behavior during last year's contentious election.
Read more: Bolsonaro met with navy, army, air force chiefs to discuss coup
“What I seek is pacification, it is erasing the past,” he told the crowds. “It is to seek a way for us to live in peace and stop being so jumpy. Amnesty for those poor people who are jailed in Brasília. We ask all 513 congressmen, 81 senators for a bill of amnesty so justice can be made in Brazil.”
Bolsonaro also denied that he and his supporters attempted a coup.
“What is a coup? It is tanks on the streets, weapons, and conspiracy. None of that happened in Brazil,” he said.
Read more: Lula vows 'no pardon' for those convicted for January 8 riots
Politicians and policy experts considered that the march, which included dozens of lawmakers and some state governors, indicated that the former president remains powerful and enjoys solid public support.
“He is not dead, he is competitive,” said congressman Marco Feliciano, a member of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party, adding Brazil would “turn into chaos” if he was to be arrested.
“He wants to try to show his strength to the Supreme Court and remain politically viable, even if he gets arrested,” a source close to Bolsonaro told Reuters.
