On August 3, Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest by the Supreme Court (STF) for repeatedly violating social media restrictions. These measures were imposed following tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of harsh tariffs against Brazil, which he described as a defense of Bolsonaro and his supporters amid an alleged “witch hunt.” Bolsonaro’s defiance of the STF included participating in fascist demonstrations that called for amnesty for those involved in a failed coup attempt on January 8, 2023. In response, the U.S. condemned the STF and specifically Judge Alexandre de Moraes, labeling him a “human rights abuser” for his actions against Bolsonaro, further straining U.S.-Brazil relations.
The Bolsonaro-aligned Liberal Party and other far-right factions began obstructing Congress to push for an amnesty package and target the judiciary. This obstruction was temporarily halted after securing concessions, indicating a coordinated effort between Bolsonaro’s supporters in Brazil and U.S. political interests. The article emphasizes the threats posed by fascist forces in Brazil, their connections to U.S. imperialism, and critiques the Workers’ Party (PT) for inadequately addressing the rise of fascist elements. It calls for the working class to establish political independence from bourgeois parties to combat both fascism and imperialist influence through revolutionary means.
