When celebrating its 200 years of independence in 2010, Chile organized more than 100 events to mark the date, inaugurating new museums and parks, and launching infrastructure works. That same year, Argentina celebrated its own independence milestone with free concerts and street parties that lasted for days.
In Brazil, however, the mood surrounding this year’s Independence Day bicentennial on September 7 is much less festive. Instead, the country is on edge due to President Jair Bolsonaro’s constant threats against democracy.
For more than a year, Mr. Bolsonaro has hinted that he may not accept October’s election results,...
