Tens of Thousands Gather in Brazil to Support Former President Bolsonaro Amid Investigations

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro addressed tens of thousands of supporters in Sao Paulo on February 25, denying coup allegations against him and calling for an amnesty for hundreds of his followers convicted for attacks on public buildings. The rally was held in defense of democratic rule of law, following a police raid investigating an alleged coup attempt. Bolsonaro refrained from attacking old foes or the supreme court during his speech, but expressed a desire to pardon dozens of people still in jail for their involvement in the incidents. The former president faces a Brazilian Federal Police investigation into the attempted coup plot and has been barred from seeking office for eight years due to an election ban. Bolsonaro's passport was also seized earlier this month. The rally aimed to demonstrate the resilience of his base amid the investigations.