Mass Protests in Brazil Against Legal Protection for Bolsonaro

Brazilian Cities See Massive Demonstrations Against Parliamentary Immunity

Tens of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets in major cities across the country to protest proposed constitutional amendments that would shield former President Jair Bolsonaro and federal lawmakers from judicial prosecution. The demonstrations, described by Reuters as the largest left-wing protests in years, come just weeks after Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in a coup attempt.

Constitutional Amendment Sparks Outrage

The protests were organized by artists, social movements, trade unions, and political parties opposing efforts by pro-Bolsonaro parliamentarians to avoid legal consequences. On Tuesday, the lower house of Congress approved a constitutional amendment making it more difficult to arrest or prosecute lawmakers criminally. The proposal still requires Senate approval.

'I hope today's turnout is larger than the right-wing demonstration so we can pressure Congress,' one protester told Reuters, capturing the sentiment of many demonstrators.

Historical Parallels and Political Division

The scale of the protests rivaled recent right-wing demonstrations supporting Bolsonaro, highlighting the deep political polarization in Latin America's largest nation. According to estimates from the University of São Paulo and nonprofit organization More in Common, approximately 42,400 people participated in São Paulo protests and 41,800 in Rio de Janeiro, with researchers using drone footage to count participants.

One protester wore a T-shirt reading '1964 Never Again' - referencing the military coup that led to a 20-year dictatorship. 'With Bolsonaro, we came very close to a coup. I was young in 1964, but I never thought we would come so close to dictatorship again,' he told reporters.

Changing Political Dynamics

Political analysts note a significant shift in Brazil's protest patterns. 'Normally, right-wing mobilizations are three times larger than those from the left,' a political think tank director told AP. 'This pattern has changed in recent months.' The analyst attributed the change to right-wing opposition support for Trump-imposed trade tariffs and the constitutional amendment, which has 'brought left-wing parties back to the streets.'

The protests represent the first major demonstrations since Bolsonaro's conviction earlier this month for his role in the January 2023 storming of government buildings by his supporters following his electoral defeat to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. For more background on Brazil's political situation, see Wikipedia.