Rio de Janeiro, 8 September 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Tens of thousands of supporters of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro rallied across the country on Sunday, just days before a Supreme Court ruling in his trial over an alleged coup attempt.

At a mass gathering on São Paulo's Avenida Paulista during Brazil's Independence Day celebrations, demonstrators demanded amnesty for those involved in the January 8, 2023 storming of government buildings in Brasília.

São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, a Bolsonaro ally, lashed out at Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a frequent target of the right. "No one can endure the tyranny of a judge like Moraes any longer. No one can bear what is happening in this country anymore," he told the crowd.

Similar rallies took place in Rio de Janeiro and in the capital itself, while Bolsonaro opponents also staged counter-demonstrations in several cities.

The Supreme Court trial against Bolsonaro enters a decisive stage next week. The 70-year-old and seven co-defendants – including former ministers and senior military officers – are accused of plotting to overturn the 2022 election result.

If convicted, Bolsonaro would become the first former president in Brazil's history found guilty of attempting a coup.

Starting Tuesday, five judges of the court's First Chamber are due to cast their votes, with a decision expected by the end of the week. A simple majority of three votes would be enough for conviction.

The charges include attempted coup, membership in a criminal organization, and the destruction of protected public property.

Photo: EPA