Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gathered thousands of protesters in central Sao Paulo to demonstrate against the country’s ban of the social media platform X on Independence Day. While his political rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, led an official parade with the country’s military in the capital Brasilia, Bolsonaro addressed the crowd in Sao Paulo, criticizing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who was responsible for the ban. De Moraes had ordered X to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, but when the platform refused, he suspended its activities in the country, leading to the ongoing confrontation between him and X’s owner, Elon Musk.
Despite Brazil’s Supreme Court unanimously upholding the decision to ban X, Bolsonaro and his far-right supporters saw the move as an infringement on free speech rights. Bolsonaro called for the protest against the ban, claiming that when freedom of expression and the press are threatened, democracy requires help. Bolsonaro also accused De Moraes of bias in the 2022 elections, where Bolsonaro spread misinformation about electoral fraud. After losing the vote, Bolsonaro and his allies challenged the results, leading to protests and a violent assault on government buildings in Brasilia.
The protestors in Sao Paulo, including Bolsonaro, continue to propagate false claims about the 2022 election and accuse De Moraes of orchestrating a setup during the January 8 riot. Bolsonaro’s clash with De Moraes stems from the latter’s role in leading the Superior Electoral Court, which ultimately voted to ban Bolsonaro from office until 2030 for spreading false information. Bolsonaro’s attempts to challenge the election results using unfounded claims have caused friction with the judiciary and led to further political unrest in Brazil.
The banning of X in Brazil has become a focal point for the far-right in the country, who view it as an attack on their free speech rights. Bolsonaro’s call for protest against the ban reflects his ongoing struggle with the country’s judiciary and political opponents. The tension between Bolsonaro, De Moraes, and Lula da Silva highlights the divisive political landscape in Brazil, where misinformation, protests, and accusations of bias are prevalent. The outcome of this conflict will likely impact Brazil’s democracy and the upcoming presidential elections in the country.
