What is CPAC, the event that hopes to bring Trump and Milei to Manaus

By Marcela Leiros – From Cenarium

MANAUS (AM) – The city of Manaus (AM) will host the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Brazil 2025, considered by the right-wing to be the largest gathering of conservatives in Latin America. Scheduled for August, CPAC has yet to confirm a date or location but aims to bring prominent figures such as the presidents of the United States and Argentina, Donald Trump and Javier Milei, respectively, to the capital.

In the event’s promotional banner published by federal deputy Alberto Neto (PL/AM) on social media, photos of Trump, Milei, and Bolsonaro appear alongside Nikolas Ferreira (PL/MG), Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL/SP), and the congressman from Amazonas himself, with the text “Stay tuned. In August.”

According to Alberto Neto, speaking to CENARIUM, Eduardo Bolsonaro will visit Manaus after Carnival for the official event announcement, during which more details about CPAC will be shared. The advisory team has confirmed the presence of Bolsonaro and Milei.

The CPAC event is expected to take place before the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which will be held in November in the neighboring state of Pará. The confirmations were made by federal deputies Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL/SP) and Alberto Neto (PL/AM).

“In Brazil, we host our Brazilian version in August. We are still finalizing the exact date in the city of Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon. A little before COP, which is the world’s biggest forum on the topic, entirely biased towards counterproductive agendas, with extreme ideological radicalism. So, we will counter COP and address the issues of our region in Manaus in August,” said Eduardo Bolsonaro on Sunday, the 23rd, during the American edition of the event.

CPAC

In 2024, the 5th edition of CPAC took place over two days in Balneário Camboriú (SC). The event gathered Brazilian and international right-wing figures who launched attacks on the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and the press while praising the rioters who stormed government buildings on January 8, 2023.

Figures such as former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and Argentina’s president Javier Milei were present. At the time, Bolsonaro stated that he was available to clarify the accusations against him and criticized the attacks from the “mainstream media.”

During the event, journalists and media professionals covering CPAC were also harassed. The reason for the tension was the conservatives’ intolerance toward outlets they consider “leftist,” such as TV Globo, CNN, and the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo.

Security personnel had to escort journalists out of the venue to prevent the situation from escalating further. As they were led to the exit, Bolsonaro supporters booed the group and live-streamed the moment on social media.

Event Cancellation

The event’s confirmation follows former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) canceling a right-wing rally planned for March in the Amazonian capital. Right-wing protests against the Lula government, initially set to take place in multiple cities across the country, were called off and will now be concentrated only in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. The decision was made by former president Jair Bolsonaro and confirmed on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, by federal deputy Alberto Neto.

The demonstrations advocating for the impeachment of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and for amnesty for those arrested on January 8, 2023, were initially scheduled for March 16. Now, Bolsonaro supporters aim to gather 1 million people in Rio de Janeiro.

“Under President Bolsonaro’s guidance, the March 16th protest will take place exclusively in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro. The goal is to bring together 1 million patriots in one location,” said deputy Alberto Neto.

Reviewed by Gustavo Gilona
Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves