ORLANDO – Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro assured this Tuesday that he has hope in the new Parliament that will be installed tomorrow in his country during a tribute paid to him by his compatriots in Orlando, in which they treated him like a movie star.
The president, who said he has “saudade” (nostalgia) for his country,” told some 600 followers gathered in a restaurant that he is “67 years old and will continue with Brazil’s policy.”
He stressed that tomorrow is a “very important” day, referring to the inauguration of a new legislature, the first of the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and the election of new authorities with a conservative composition that could hinder the plans of the progressive leader.
In the case of the Senate, Bolsonaro, who said he expects other groups to join his party to oppose the government, has his eyes on Rogério Marinho, nominated by the extreme right.
“We hope to bring people to our side, Brazil is a fantastic country,” he emphasized.
The Chambers of Deputies and the Senate were also renewed in the elections last October, in which Lula defeated Bolsonaro, who is trying to maintain a certain influence in Parliament, by a meager difference of 1.8 percentage points.
The former president also pointed out that his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, and their daughter have already returned to the country, but that he will stay a while longer, to which his followers responded by shouting “stay, stay.”
Supporters of the former president, who arrived in the US two days before the inauguration of his successor on December 30, paid up to $50 for admission to the event.
“I love my president, he is still my president,” a doctor who identified himself as Jimmy Albuquerque and who has lived in the United States for 50 years told EFE emotionally.
With Brazilian flags and many of them dressed in the jersey of their country’s soccer team, the attendees celebrated the meeting with the ultra-rightist, who had already completed a month out of Brazil.
REQUEST A CHANGE OF IMMIGRATION STATUS
Before the event, his lawyer, the Brazilian-American Felipe Alexandre, confirmed to EFE that Bolsonaro entered the country with the A-1 visa for heads of state and that although this document expired today, he had already submitted the request to change it for another status in advance. migratory.
The organizers of the tribute, the Orlando motorcycle group known as Yes Brazil-USA, brought together the Brazilian community of South Florida to the Legend restaurant, less than ten minutes from the Orlando theme park complex in central Florida.
Estefano Chagas, who traveled from Miami, told EFE that he came to show his support for Bolsonaro considering that last October’s elections in his country were “rigged.”
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced through his Twitter account that he was admitted to a hospital in Orlando, in the United States, for an “abdominal adhesion.”
Long lines of Brazilians, several of them from distant cities, were waiting their turn to be photographed and exchange words with Bolsonaro, who in his country is facing an investigation into the attack by his followers on the main headquarters of the three government powers.
Dressed in a white shirt and on a stage where the flags of Brazil and the United States were waving, as well as one of Israel, Bolsonaro seemed excited to share with the immigrant community of his country who filled the stage with shouts of joy.
AROUND 600 SUPPORTERS PAY TRIBUTE TO HIM
This is a tribute “to the best president in the history of the country”, prayed the presenter of the event “Grande Encontro con Jair Bolsonaro”, while the speakers who followed him pointed out that he “rescued the pride and patriotism of Brazilians” and made the country a “safer and freer” one.
The evening, which began with the Brazilian anthem and a video about the life of the former president, continued with tributes, including songs, one titled “Welcome to the Revolution” by American Idol contestant Jimmy Levy.
Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro who refuse to accept their electoral defeat stormed Congress, the Federal Supreme Court and the Presidential Palace on Sunday.
Since his arrival in Orlando, Bolsonaro has stayed at the home of a mixed martial arts fighter, José Aldo, who is one of his followers.
His presence in the United States has become more controversial following the attack on the three powers in Brasilia carried out by hundreds of his supporters in early January to overthrow the Lula government.
At the request of the Prosecutor’s Office, on January 14, the Supreme Court of Brazil included the former Brazilian president in the list of those investigated for the attempted coup.