A last-ditch effort or a political leap of faith? Cornered by legal investigations and under serious threat of imprisonment, Jair Bolsonaro led a major rally of supporters on Sunday, February 25. Organized on Sao Paulo's Paulista Avenue, it brought together tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of far-right supporters decked out in Seleçao jerseys, the Brazilian national football team.

Bolsonaro supporters from all over the country answered their leader's call. "We couldn't let our captain down at such a difficult time for him!" proclaimed Antonio Carlos. This 76-year-old veteran activist spent 20 hours on a bus from his town of Linhares, more than 1,000 kilometers away, to catch a glimpse of his champion. "The judges want to imprison Bolsonaro because he's an honest man!" he firmly believes.

"We're also here to defend our freedom – Brazil is sinking into dictatorship!" Carlos continued, fuming about the police operation carried out on February 8 against Bolsonaro and those close to him, suspected of having attempted to organize a coup in 2022 to overturn the results of the presidential election won by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "All of this is nonsense! Bolsonaro is a victim of persecution!" said Carlos.

To avoid potential charges, demonstrators were instructed not to display any posters on the street. The event was even described as a "beautiful celebration of democracy" by its official organizer, far-right evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia. In a symbolic gesture, a man dressed as an angel with pearly wings stood near the main platform.

'What I'm looking for is pacification'

The crowds were certainly there. But it's a far cry from the enthusiasm of previous rallies. Under a beautiful sun, faces remained serious and words were controlled. The fear of being thrown in jail for attempting a coup is real among these Bolsonaro supporters, who are now restraining their attacks on the hated judges of the Supreme Federal Court. "People are afraid. Certain opinions are now considered crimes in Brazil!" a demonstrator hissed.

In the crowd, Israeli flags were almost as numerous as Brazilian ones. Statements by left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who recently compared the war in Gaza to the Holocaust, have outraged far-right evangelicals, staunch supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu. "Lula, an anti-Semite who sponsors Hamas, terrorists and enemies of the Jews! It's a disgrace!" said Sandro, 47, a logistics coordinator at Santos's main port, sporting a brand new T-shirt with the colors of the Brazilian flag and the Star of David.

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