Afraid of reprisal, Sep. 7 rallies in Brasília disguise putschist rhetoric

For the second year in a row, President Jair Bolsonaro commanded throngs of supporters who took over Brasília’s Esplanade of Ministries on Independence Day, September 7, to demonstrate in his favor — and, in parts, against the Supreme Court. But while the anti-democratic overtones were similar, the 2022 event had key differences from last year.

The Brazilian Report followed the event, which hijacked attention from the independence bicentennial and turned a date of national celebration into a political rally.

At one point during his speech, Mr. Bolsonaro said he didn’t trust renowned Brazilian pollster Datafolha, claiming that he instead believes in “data-people,” suggesting that the large crowds in Brasília prove the polls wrong. As things stand, opinion surveys have him well behind former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the race.

Attendance was significantly smaller this time around, when compared to 2021 marches. Granted, photos and aerial footage from one year to the next are not completely comparable, as there was no military parade in 2021. This morning, thousands of Mr. Bolsonaro’s...