"Moraes has to go!" Waving Brazilian flags in green and yellow, tens of thousands of Jair Bolsonaro supporters marched through the streets on Sunday, August 3, in more than 18 cities across the country to express their anger at Alexandre de Moraes, a judge on Brazil's highest court, whom they accuse of "political persecution" against the far-right former president (2019-2022).

Bolsonaro, who is being prosecuted for an attempted coup aimed at preventing Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from returning to power during the riots of January 8, 2023, is facing up to 40 years in prison. Tensions with the judiciary escalated further when the US threatened in early July to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports in retaliation for what it called a "witch hunt" against the former president.

Following these threats, which are set to come into force on August 6, Judge de Moraes, who is overseeing the trial, hardened the measures against Bolsonaro. On July 18, he accused Bolsonaro of carrying out "hostile acts" against Brazil, ordering him to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and banning him from posting on social media or leaving his home in the evenings, both on weekdays and weekends.

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