Mass protests for and against Bolsonaro

Currently, mass protests are taking place all over Brazil, challenging whether Bolsonaro should remain in his position as president or if he should be replaced.

During the election, his ratings have reached new depths. His electoral reforms failed, and the constitutional court turned against him.

Photo: Miguel Schincariol/AFP via Getty Images

In order to get his reforms passed, he mobilized his supporters to fight against the democratic institutions. Bolsonaro threatened the court, saying to Luiz Fox, president of the court, "Either the chief of this state authority keeps his [judge] in check, or this institution will suffer what we do not want."

Roberto Gulart, a political scientist from the University of Brasilia, said in an interview that Bolsonaro never trusted the democratic institutions.

About 100,000 protesters were out on the streets on Brazil’s independence day, to demonstrate against an impeachment for Bolsonaro.

While in downtown Rio, protests called for Jair Bolsonaro’s impeachment. The reason for this demonstration is the Covid outbreak in Brazil, from which about 600,000 citizens have died. Bolsonaro was even prosecuted for clearing the tropical forest illegally.

“We have come to shout at the top of our voices: Bolsonaro’s place is behind bars,” Carlos Lupi, the president of Brazil’s Democratic Labour Party said. While Bolsonaro says that “only God” would get him out of "Palacio do Planalto,” the government building.

The communist party agrees with Democratic Labour. Congresswoman Jandira Feghali said, “We can wait no longer. It is time for us to scream out loud: ‘Bolsonaro out!’”

“He is the tip of the iceberg of what is worst in all of us,” said Renato Bezerra de Mello, an artist.

During his period of office, Bolsonaro didn’t really achieve a single one of his goals. He wanted to build a strong economy, which failed; the economy in Brazil only got weaker.

“The president has cut taxes on rifles, but not for basic food,” said a 63-year-old decorator from Rio.

Currently Brazil suffers from a food shortage, which is the consequence of Jair Bolsonaro’s economic policies in recent years.

“We have to show in the streets what the polls have already shown in numbers – that the overwhelming majority of Brazilians will no longer tolerate the misrule that has caused 600,000 [Covid] deaths and has destroyed the Brazilian economy and Brazil’s international reputation,” Molon said.

“We are occupying the streets to give visibility to the silent majority that can no longer bear Bolsonaro.”