Brazil’s right-wing rallies amid tensions over free speech, X ban

Led by former president Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s right-wing movement took to the streets in Sao Paulo on Saturday, marking Independence Day with a show of force amid mounting tensions over free speech. The demonstration came after the country’s judiciary ordered the suspension of X, the social platform previously known as Twitter, which has become the favored communication tool of Bolsonaro’s supporters.

In a social media video post ahead of the rally, Bolsonaro called on his followers to gather in green and yellow — colors traditionally associated with the Brazilian flag but now widely adopted by his supporters. “There is no point celebrating our independence if we are deprived of freedom,” the former president said in a post on Instagram, urging for a large turnout.

The rally, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), comes a month ahead of Brazil’s municipal elections, a critical moment for Bolsonaro’s political influence in a country still divided after his defeat to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro left office nearly two years ago after a narrow loss in the presidential election, which his supporters continue to claim was stolen — without evidence. That claim fueled the January 8, 2023 storming of Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace by Bolsonaristas.

Tensions with judiciary

The rally takes place against a backdrop of Bolsonaro’s ongoing legal battles. Dubbed the “Tropical Trump,” he is under investigation for an alleged coup attempt in relation to the January 8 insurrection. The investigation is led by Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who has become a target of the right’s anger. Moraes, who previously headed Brazil’s electoral tribunal (TSE), has spearheaded efforts against disinformation and banned Bolsonaro from running for office until 2030.

Moraes also ordered the suspension of X for violating Brazilian laws, a move that has been met with outrage from Bolsonaro and his supporters, who accuse the judiciary of censorship. Bolsonaro labeled the decision “a blow to our freedom and legal security,” arguing that it would deter foreign investors and impact public life.

Lula, meanwhile, has backed Moraes’s actions, emphasizing the importance of combating “fake news.”

Calls for impeachment

The rally, planned before Moraes’s suspension of X, was organized by right-wing figures such as evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia. Malafaia urged participants to demand the removal of the “toga-clad dictator” Moraes, in reference to his judicial position. Bolsonaro supporters in the Senate have also vowed to file for Moraes’s impeachment next week, a move that has been endorsed by X owner Elon Musk.

Political analysts see the rally as a key moment for Bolsonaro to demonstrate his continued influence. “We will see the true extent of Bolsonarism,” said Geraldo Monteiro, a political scientist at the University of Rio de Janeiro, referring to the turnout expected at the event.

Lula presides over independence day parade

While Bolsonaro’s supporters gathered in Sao Paulo, President Lula presided over an Independence Day parade in Brasilia, where Moraes sat alongside him on the official podium. The parade featured 30 military athletes who had competed in the Paris Olympic Games, and Lula waved to the crowd from the presidential Rolls-Royce.

This political divide between Brazil’s left and right continues to shape the country’s future, with free speech, social media regulation, and the upcoming municipal elections at the heart of the nation’s debates.