Thousands rally in Brazil in ‘defence of democracy’

Brazilian business leaders, intellectuals and artists gathered to read manifestos defending democratic institutions on Thursday after attacks by President Jair Bolsonaro that have raised fears he could reject the results of October’s presidential election, The Associated Press reported. (AP photo)

President Jair Bolsonaro has questioned Brazil’s electronic voting system and attacked Supreme Court justices who oversee elections, accusing them of favouring his rival and former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (AP photo)

Brazilians signed a manifesto organised by Sao Paulo’s confederation of industries (FIESP), expressing support for the judiciary criticised by Bolsanaro. (AP)

The manifesto called the top court “the ultimate guardian of the Constitution” and said it had conducted the country’s elections with total integrity. (AP)

A second manifesto, signed by nearly a million people, warned that the country’s democracy was under threat. (AP)

In the upcoming Presidential election in Brazil, Jair Bolsanaro faces former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (AP)

In response to the manifestos, Bolsanaro said he had no need to sign a letter to prove his democratic credentials (Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino)

An LGBTQ+ activist dressed as an electronic voting machine protests outside the Faculty of Law at Sao Paulo University in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)