Thousands in Brazil protest 55th anniversary of military coup that Bolsonaro praised

[Judi Lynn]

Source: AFP-JIJI

Thousands in Brazil protest 55th anniversary of military coup that Bolsonaro praised
AFP-JIJI

APR 1, 2019

RIO DE JANEIRO - Several thousand protesters chanting “dictatorship never again” took to the streets of Brazil’s biggest cities Sunday on the 55th anniversary of the coup that established more than two decades of military rule.

Some 2,000 people rallied in Rio de Janeiro’s central Cinelandia plaza, while in Sao Paulo a few hundred converged on popular Ibirapuera Park to demonstrate against the 1964-1985 dictatorship.

The protests were sparked by the order recently issued by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro for defense forces to “appropriately” commemorate the overthrow of President Joao Goulart.

. . .

In the past, the tough-talking Bolsonaro has referred to the dictatorship as a “glorious” time in Brazilian history. He was quoted in 2008 as saying that “the error of the dictatorship was that it tortured but did not kill.”

Read more: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/01/world/politics-diplomacy-world/thousands-brazil-protest-55th-anniversary-military-coup-bolsonaro-praised/#.XKFqX5hKjIU

[sandensea]

1. You said it perfectly, Judi: Bolsonazi and his pal Macri should hold 'coup week' celebrations

March 31st for Brazil (1964), and March 24th for Argentina (1976).

Of course though, they'd have to hold separate events, since Bolso can't stand Macri.

Ironies of life.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Can't remember exactly why Bolso nurses the grudge against Macri, was it an insult from Macri

which drove him wild?

Macri is a lot more sophisticated in public than the Brazilian buffoon, more "grown up" and never does eat the scenery trying to get attention, like Trump and Bolsonaro. That could make Bolsonaro feel Macri believes he's a cut above, too cool for school.
It might get Bolsonaro claiming Macri is one of the dreaded "homosexuals" Bolso constantly rages against, along with women, if he doesn't horse around in public, making threats, waving his arms, mugging, shouting hostilities.



Bolsonaro and his ubiquitous handguns







The President of Brazil.

[sandensea]

3. It's generally believed that it's because Macri refused to attend Bolso's inaugural

That, and most likely because someone told Bolsonaro how Macri talks about Brazilians - and about the rest of South America in general - behind their backs (even openly, at times).

Let's just say it's one more thing he has in common with Trump.

So why did Macri skip the inaugural?

He was no doubt advised to skip it by his image people, who reminded him that he himself (Macri) already has a bad reputation as a semi-authoritarian given to persecuting opponents on trumped-up charges and (in the case of Indigenous activists) disregarding human rights whenever he feels he can get away with it.

Too many photos of him standing next to Bolsonaro, with their strident poses, with saluting Brazilian thugs behind them, would just make for too much bad press back home - especially in an election year.

Frenemies? Macri and Bolsonaro during the former's state visit to Brazil this January.

Though Bolsonaro flaunts his right-wing views with much more gusto, the two are ideologically similar. They, however, don't get on well.