Washington. Brazilian ex-president Jair Bolsonaro took part in this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the USA. He addressed an audience of conservative activists, politicians and former US President Donald Trump on graduation day.
In his speech, Bolsonaro highlighted the supposed achievements of his government. These included defending freedom on social media and relaxing gun laws. He also emphasized that no one was forced to be vaccinated during the course of the Covid 19 pandemic. He criticized the “gender ideology” and called for the protection of the family. In addition, private property in Brazil is in danger. He earned applause from the conservative audience.
Bolsonaro announced that his political work was not over yet. “In this moment I thank God […] for the mission of having been President of the Republic for one term, but I feel deep down that mission is not over yet.”
He again questioned the 2022 presidential election, which he lost to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the second round, and expressed distrust over the election results. “I had a lot more support in 2022 than in 2018. I don’t know why the numbers showed the opposite,” said the ex-president.
After Bolsonaro’s speech, entrepreneur and Trump supporter Mike Lindell substantiated the ex-president’s doubts and spoke of election fraud in Brazil through the electronic ballot box. There is no evidence for this allegation.
According to the organizers, the CPAC is the most important congress of conservatives in the USA and has been taking place since 1974. There were also events in Latin American countries such as Mexico and Brazil. Due to the ideological proximity to Trump, Bolsonaro receives support from right-wing extremist groups such as “Yes Brazil USA”. This defines itself as a “right-wing group that brings Christians together” to liberate Brazil from communist and socialist ideology.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal the ultra-right ex-president announced that he wanted to return to Brazil in March. Bolsonaro wants to lead the opposition against the current government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
However, upon his arrival in Brazil, Bolsonaro faces several trials that could result in disqualification from public office and even imprisonment. The Brazilian authorities are investigating, among other things, the spread of fake news and his negligence in dealing with the Covid 19 pandemic, which critics call criminal (america21 reported). The Supreme Court has launched investigations into the government of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro for possible genocide against the indigenous ethnic group Yanomami (america21 reported). Finally, investigations are underway into whether and to what extent Bolsonaro instigated the coup riot in the capital Brasília on January 8, 2023.
