Bolsonaro calls coup acts a ‘left-wing trap’ – 10/08/2023 – Power

Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) stated this Sunday (8) in Belo Horizonte that the coup acts by Bolsonaro supporters on January 8 were a “trap sponsored by the left”.

The statement was made during a rally against abortion in Praça da Liberdade.

The 8/1 attacks carried out in Brasília by Bolsonaro supporters included the invasion of the Esplanada dos Ministérios and vandalism at the headquarters of the three Powers. This Sunday, Bolsonaro made reference to the acts when he noted that the square had fewer people than on his previous visit to the area.

“We were here last year. The square was full. I believe the decrease in the number of people is due to fear of what happened on January 8,” he said.

Last month, the STF (Supreme Federal Court) sentenced the first three accused by 8/1 for crimes such as criminal association and coup d’état, with sentences of up to 17 years in prison.

“Brazilians, patriots, who went to demonstrate, entered a trap, a trap sponsored by the left,” said Bolsonaro, without explaining how this would have happened.

Declared ineligible for eight years by the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), Bolsonaro inflamed his supporters mainly against the STF throughout his term.

This Sunday, protesters occupied part of the square in the anti-abortion demonstration in front of the Palácio da Liberdade. The PM of Minas does not disclose an estimate of participants.

Protesters in the gathering before the march showed banners and posters against ADPF 442, which decriminalizes abortion in the country and is in the STF awaiting judgment.

In addition to the posters, shouts of “I want to hear it again, the people are supreme”. Pregnant women and children were placed on a sound truck used for speeches.

Most of the protesters were members of evangelical churches, such as that of the father of federal deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL), and the charismatic Catholic church of federal deputy Eros Biondini (PL).

The former president and the former first lady have been on a schedule in Belo Horizonte since Friday (6). On the first day, Bolsonaro had lunch with supporters and participated in a service at an evangelical church whose pastor is the father of deputy Nikolas Ferreira.

Bolsonaro also met with representatives of the agricultural sector. On Saturday (7), the former president had breakfast with the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo).

On the same day, he and the former first lady participated in a PL Mulher meeting. Michelle is president of the party’s national wing. Bolsonaro networks played videos of the former president in at least two restaurants in the city throughout the afternoon.

The march against abortion is the couple’s latest agenda in the capital of Minas Gerais.