How the trial of the former president divided Brazil

Sunday, Brazilians celebrated the independence of their country in Portugal as they do each year on September 7: with patriotism, military parades, the bustle of the flag and barbecue – Brazilian barbecues.

But with an imminent verdict in the trial on the coup accusations of former president Jair Bolsonaro, this year, the day was marked by rival gatherings.

Thousands of people have taken up the streets singing slogans on freedom: some to defend democracy, others to defend the former president who is accused of having tried to overthrow him.

On Tuesday, five judges of the Supreme Court will begin to make their verdicts one by one on Si Jair Bolsonaro organized a coup d’etat to cling to power after losing the 2022 elections to his left rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The allegations include the proposal of a coup to military commanders, the knowledge of a conspiracy to assassinate the elected president Lula Da Silva and the judge of the Supreme Court Alexandre de Moraes, and encouraging supporters to attack government buildings on January 8, 2023 after having questioned the electoral system.

Bolsonaro denies the accusations, calling them politically motivation, an opinion shared by his supporters – and US President Donald Trump.

Trump described the trial as “political persecution” and imposed prices of 50% on Brazilian property, as well as sanctions against the Supreme Court Moraes, who directs the trial.

The son of Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo, who managed to put pressure for the taxation of prices in the United States, defended this decision, telling the BBC last month that he believes that “freedom comes first, before the economy”.

But many Brazilians consider him a deep antipatriotic to support the infliction of economic pain in Brazil for the political fortunes of the Bolsonaro family.

“Brazil is completely divided,” said Bianca, who attended a large pro-Bolsonaro rally on Sunday in São Paulo.

“But I believe that with American sanctions, those who were in favor (of the trial) withdraw the foot from the gas,” she added, draped in the combined Brazilian and the American flag.

Patriotic symbols such as the national flag and the Brazil football shirt have long been co -opted like the uniform of the right -wing Bolsonaro base, but some have also put on Trump accessories.

The crowds demanded “Amnesty!” And “Moraes, outside!”

Another demonstrator, Erica, said that the trial was “only a great theater because everyone knows that his conviction is already determined”.

But there are many here who do not agree.

In a rally near opponents of Bolsonaro, crowds chanted “No Amnesty” and “Dictatorship, never again”.

Huge Bolsonaro inflatable figurines in a prison uniform and Trump switched above the signs saying: “Prison for Bolsonaro” and “Trump, Paws off Brazil”.

One wore the football shirt, which the left Brazilians hope to recover, saying “I am not a servant of Bolsonaro”.

The crowd was optimistic that he could be condemned.

One of the demonstrators, Rafael, described the arrest of Bolsonaro as “victory”, accusing him of having committed “serious crimes” against the Brazilians.

“It’s always very polarized. Until recently, the right was strong. But since Trump’s actions, there has been a change to the left. It is a question of sovereignty and preventing foreign interference,” he added.

“All evidence shows that it was an attempted coup,” said Karina. “I hope justice is done to show that you cannot do what you want for your own gain.”

This trial carved deep fruits and revived debates on democracy in Brazil.

The riots of January 8 and the allegations of coup d’etat are so disturbing for the criticism of Bolsonaro because the democracy of Brazil is still young.

It was restored in 1985, after two decades of dictatorship supported by the United States.

The Supreme Court presents itself as a guardian of this democracy.

But it has become a lightning rod. His judges are appointed by presidents but may also exercise presidents and ministers in judgment.

Some sit on the electoral court and eliminate the laws. Its president was once Lula’s lawyer, adding fuel to the accusations of bias of the supporters of Bolsonaro.

An investigation into false news, including online threats against the court, led by judge Moraes imprisoned Bolsonaro allies and eliminated social media accounts.

Critics say that this stretches the delivery of the court in the police and politics; Supporters call it a model for the digital age.

The role of the court in the Bolsonaro trial, in which Moraes is both a rapporteur and the objective of the alleged assassination conspiracy which is part of the case, led the two parties to accuse the other authoritarianism.

Bolsonaro criticisms argue that he tried to install a dictatorship.

His supporters, on the other hand, say that the sweeping powers that the Court used to investigate the alleged coup and the riots of the capital, Brasília, are an abuse of judicial powers.

Those who believe that the judiciary went too far in the pursuit of the people involved in the assault of government buildings on January 8, 2023 often quotes the case with Débora Rodrigues Dos Santos.

The supporter of Bolsonaro, 39, was sentenced to 14 years after scribbled “You Lost, an idiot” in lipstick on the statue of justice outside the Supreme Court.

Although her prison sentence was later transformed into a residual residence because she has children who she is dealing with, the fact that she was judged accusations of coup d’etat before the Supreme Court continues to get angry a lot.

“They tried it for graffiti. I have never heard of someone sentenced to 14 years in prison for the lipstick. It was a demonstration, and they were qualified as terrorists,” his sister Claudia told the BBC.

Claudia said that Débora regretted the graffiti but had not regretted having attended the January 8 demonstration, which, according to her, was her “right” because she had persistent “doubts” about the outcome of the election.

Claudia attributes “Love for the Flag” to Bolsonaro with “Housewives, The Whatsapp, the Mason, the businessman” to engage in politics.

She maintains that, because no blow was materialized, Bolsonaro can be guilty of one.

“If he is convicted of a coup, it also condemns 1,200 people protesting there,” she said.

But there are others who think that the events of January 8, 2023 were much more than a simple demonstration.

Ricardo Cappelli is the former minister responsible for restoring the order with Brasília after the assault of key buildings.

He remembers “demonstrators” of the demonstrators invading three branches of the government and committing “barbaric acts” to the Supreme Court, “symbolically attacking a fundamental institution for Brazilian democracy”.

He thinks that this trial will help “turn a page in history” by showing that Brazil will no longer tolerate threats to democracy.

“I never have those behind a coup or a coup attempt sat on the platform in Brazil,” he told the BBC.

For him, the trial also gives a global example. He argues that if the riots of the American Capitol had occurred in Brazil, “Donald Trump would most likely be seated on the platform”.

While a verdict is approaching, the Bolsonaro party – which has a majority in the congress – pushes a bill to grant it as well as the demonstrators of January 8, while the nerves build that their alleged leader is about to fall.

Mr. Cappelli’s response to those who call the authoritarian of the answer is: “The history of the study. The amnesty for attempted coup d’etat has resulted in new coup d’etat. The coup d’etat plunder plunder today becomes the coup d’etat of tomorrow.”

For years, Bolsonaro has divided Brazil into loyalists and adversaries.

For his fans, this trial is equivalent to a persecution for a coup that has never occurred; For his criticisms, protection against another dictatorship.

Even some moderate right wings hope that this trial could finally draw a line, but with such different definitions of authoritarianism, polarization could still deepen.