Bolsonaro cancels protests against Lula in cities; demonstration takes place only in Rio
25 de February de 2025
By Marcela Leiros – From Cenarium
MANAUS (AM) – The right-wing demonstrations against Lula’s government in several cities across the country have been cancelled and will now be concentrated solely in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. The decision was made by former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and confirmed on the social network X, formerly Twitter, by federal deputy Alberto Neto (PL/AM) this Sunday, 23rd.
The protests, which were originally planned for 16th March, aimed to push for the impeachment of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and advocate for amnesty for those imprisoned on 8th January 2023. Bolsonaro supporters now intend to gather 1 million people in the capital of Rio de Janeiro.
“Following President Bolsonaro’s guidance, the demonstration on 16/03 will take place exclusively in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. The goal is to bring together 1 million patriots in a single location,” said deputy Alberto Neto.
On 16th February, Alberto Neto had confirmed the demonstration in Manaus for a month later. The parliamentarian posted a photo alongside Bolsonaro (PL), mentioning the date of the protest but without explicitly calling for Lula’s removal from the presidency.
In Amazonas, politicians from the Liberal Party (PL) in the state had also been urging the people of Manaus to join the protest in order to pressure the National Congress to approve an impeachment request.
Impeachment request
The slogan “Fora Lula” (Out with Lula) gained momentum after a Datafolha poll showed that Lula’s approval rating had dropped to 24%, the lowest figure ever recorded. The president’s approval plummeted from 35% to 24% in just two months, reaching an unprecedented level for the PT leader across his three terms in office. His disapproval rating also hit a record high, rising from 34% to 41%.
Amnesty for 8th January
The calls for amnesty for those imprisoned on 8th January—when the Three Powers buildings in Brasília (DF) were stormed and vandalised—have been a key demand of opposition lawmakers since 2022. The issue became the subject of Bill (PL) 2858/22, known as the “Amnesty Bill”, which, if approved, would benefit those involved in the attempted coup.
Upon taking office as Speaker of the House, deputy Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB) stated that a decision on whether to proceed with the bill would be made in a leaders’ meeting “with the greatest impartiality possible”.
Repercussions
The mobilisation for the protests in Brazil caught the attention of Elon Musk, owner of X and a member of Donald Trump’s administration in the United States. Musk shared on social media an announcement about demonstrations calling for Lula’s impeachment.
Illustrated with images of the protests demanding the removal of Dilma Rousseff (PT) on Avenida Paulista in São Paulo, the post advertised “a nationwide wave of protests in 120 cities across Brazil on 16th March calling for Lula’s removal”.
The billionaire, who serves as the head of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE, in its English acronym), shared the message with his followers, simply commenting, “Wow”.