SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Brazil is contending with reaction from the unprecedented trial and conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro for attempting to overthrow the government. Despite receiving a 27-year sentence this week, he remains one of Brazil's most influential figures. The far-right populace still inspires both admiration and outrage as Julia Carneiro reports from Rio.
JULIA CARNEIRO: It's the day after the verdict, and it feels like carnival here in downtown Rio with musicians and rappers on the street and banners saying no amnesty to coupmongers. I've come to see how these people feel about Bolsonaro's conviction. Rafael Soto (ph) is dressed in a prisoner uniform with black and white stripes - cap included. Why are you here, celebrating Rafael?
RAFAEL SOTO: Bolsonaro is so bad politician. He made so many bad things, and we are very happy now because he will be in the jail for 27 years.
CARNEIRO: Natalia Feher (ph) here with a sticker on her chest saying, Bolsonaro in prison. Why have you come, Natalia?
NATALIA FEHER: I came because today is a very important day for us. I feel like today we finally have at least a little bit of justice. And now I feel like we can finally breathe, we can finally try to change what this country has become.
CARNEIRO: It's hard to overstate the impact of the verdict on a country that still remembers 21 years of military dictatorship. The conviction of a former president for plotting a coup is a seismic moment for this relatively young democracy.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
LUIS ROBERTO BARROSO: (Non-English language spoken).
CARNEIRO: Justice Luis Roberto Barroso, president of the Supreme Court, called the trial a watershed moment. "I believe we are closing the chapters of regression in Brazilian history," he said, "marked by coups and the breakdown of constitutional order." But Brazil is polarized as ever. The Bolsonaro supporters are outraged with the verdict. His defense called the sentence excessive and is considering appeals.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
FLAVIO BOLSONARO: (Non-English language spoken).
CARNEIRO: Senator Flavio Bolsonaro says his father remains, quote, "firm and strong," "holding his head high" to face his persecution head-on. He claims history will show that Bolsonaro was, quote, "on the right side."
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS #1: (Chanting in non-English language).
CARNEIRO: Even before the trial ended, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters took to the streets, denouncing the process as illegitimate and calling for amnesty. In Sao Paolo, days ahead of the verdict, demonstrators waved Brazilian and U.S. flags, expressing gratitude to President Trump for his support of Bolsonaro, which led the U.S. to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods last month.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS #2: (Chanting in non-English language).
CARNEIRO: There's a man here draped in the Brazilian flag wearing a Donald Trump mask, and lots of people are taking turns taking pictures with him.
But polls show 90% of Brazilians think otherwise, saying the U.S. tariffs will hit their wallets with credible fear there's more U.S. retaliation to come. But demonstrator Adjalmo Grando (ph) is optimistic. He tells me that Bolsonaro's sentence doesn't signal the end of the movement he launched. Quite the reverse.
ADJALMO GRANDO: Bolsonaro is just the beginning of the right wing. Just the beginning. We will always be reborn again. Bolsonaro is just a seed, a seed of the right wing.
CARNEIRO: For NPR News, I'm Julia Carneiro in Rio de Janeiro. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.