Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro recently led a rally in central Sao Paulo to protest against the country’s ban of the social media platform X. The demonstration was held on Brazil’s Independence Day and coincided with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva leading a parade in Brasilia. Bolsonaro, dressed in the colors of the Brazilian flag, criticized Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who had ordered the suspension of X’s activities in Brazil for failing to comply with legal requirements.
The ban on X followed a dispute between Moraes and X’s owner, Elon Musk, who had closed the platform’s offices in Brazil to avoid complying with court orders. Despite Brazil’s Supreme Court upholding the ban on X, the decision sparked outrage, particularly among the far right, who saw it as an attack on free speech. Bolsonaro seized the opportunity to call for protests, claiming that freedom of expression and the press were under threat.
Bolsonaro, known for spreading misinformation about electoral fraud in the 2022 presidential elections, continued to make false claims at the protest in Sao Paulo. He accused Moraes of bias in the election and called the riot on January 8 a “set-up.” Moraes had led the Superior Electoral Court in banning Bolsonaro from office until 2030 for his role in spreading false information.
The protest in Sao Paulo highlighted the ongoing political tensions in Brazil, with Bolsonaro and his supporters challenging the legitimacy of the ban on X and the results of the 2022 elections. As the country prepares for the next election, these divisions are likely to continue to shape the political landscape.
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