In general, peoples and governments love great historical commemorations. In France, we remember the spectacular celebration of the bicentenary of the 1789 revolution. For its part, in 1922, Brazil celebrated the centenary of its independence with dignity, with an imposing Universal Exhibition, giving birth to a new district in the center of Rio.
No bicentennial celebration
We could therefore expect a great celebration for this September 7, 2022, especially with a president who places “Brazil above all”. But, surprise: nothing, or almost nothing!
It is all the more astonishing that there is a precedent, which could be a reference for Jaïr Bolsonaro. Indeed, the military dictatorship had made 150e anniversary a great nationalist moment of exaltation of the greatness of the country with slogans and popular events in order to make people forget its dark sides.
However, we could have suspected it for some time: no national commission set up, no major projects, no communication on the subject. The only notable exception: the complete restoration of the very beautiful museum of Ipiranga, a kind of museum of independence, by the State of São Paulo under the impetus of its governor, a great political enemy of the president.
But election rallies
But, in fact, Bolsonaro has a small idea behind his head: to transform this commemoration which, basically, matters little to him into a gigantic demonstration in favor of his re-election next month, by combining the traditional military parades of an army which is devoted to him and the crowd of his supporters, all in the colors of the country. A true bicentenary electoral kidnapping… Perfectly undemocratic!
This is what is done, in the morning in Brasília and in the afternoon in Rio on Copacabana beach, with a naval parade. The president talks there… But he does not even speak of the bicentenary. He makes macho remarks and makes a few vulgar sexual jokes, as usual. Above all, he speaks ill of his enemies. The political authorities of the country usually present in the official tribune of Brasília paraded. The president therefore finds himself surrounded by a wealthy businessman, a friend of his, an evangelical pastor politician… and the president of Portugal, who wonders what he is doing there!
The ambiguities of independence
This is not the least of the paradoxes: Portugal took this bicentenary much more to heart than its former colony! During the 150e anniversary of independence, he had agreed to transfer to Brazil the mortal remains of Emperor Peter 1is, the hero of autonomy, died in Portugal. Except his heart, which remained in Porto. This year, he agrees to “lend” this heart for a few weeks in order to exhibit it in Brasília. Curious macabre exchanges. Especially if we look at history: Peter 1is, after having declared the sovereignty of Brazil, reigned there for less than nine years, then abdicated and returned to his native Portugal to try to reconquer the throne there. Before his death, he asks that his body remain in Portugal.
In fact, it is the whole story of the emancipation of Brazil which is unpublished and full of ambiguities, since it is the son of the emperor of the colonizing nation who becomes the sovereign of the colonized country having acceded to the ‘independence. Peacefully, without much conflict. A unique case in world history.