Independence Day parade in Brasília attracts large crowd
Under gazes and applause of thousands of people on the Esplanade of Ministries in Brasilia, troops of the Armed Forces, Military Police, Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, and the Military Fire Brigade participated on September 7 in the parade to celebrate 200 years of Brazil's Independence from Portugal. The event took place after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bolsonaro did not give a speech during the parade.
In contrast to the intense sunshine in recent months during the dry season, the holiday was a cloudy and windy cold day in Brasilia.
President Jair Bolsonaro arrived at the parade venue around 9 pm. Before going to the rostrum, the president broke protocol and decided to walk down the street, waving to the bleachers, full of supporters. At this moment, Army paratroopers descended on the Esplanade carrying a Brazilian flag.
Among those present at the rostrum, along with the president and First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro, were the president of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the ministers of Economy Paulo Guedes, Institutional Security Cabinet Augusto Heleno, and Health Marcelo Queiroga, as well as vice president Hamilton Mourão.
