I'm holding his political wake': the trumpeter waiting to mark Bolsonaro's judgment day

"When Jair Bolsonaro was Brazil's far-right president, the guerrilla trumpeter Fabiano Leitao would stalk him around the capital, Brasilia, to taunt him with renditions of the anti-fascist anthem Bella Ciao. In March, when Bolsonaro was charged with plotting a coup, Leitao changed his tune and began provoking the ex-president by serenading him with Chopin's Funeral March. It symbolises his political demise, which is what we want to see, said the 46-year-old musician."

"Leitao is among millions of progressive Brazilians who have the metaphorical champagne on ice ahead of the widely anticipated conviction of Bolsonaro and seven alleged co-conspirators when their judgment begins this week. Seven years after the former paratrooper swept to power on a wave of social media-fuelled anti-establishment voter rage, and three after voters removed him from office, Bolsonaro is careering towards the lowest point of his 35-year political career."

"On Tuesday, five supreme court judges will convene in Brasilia to rule on whether Bolsonaro is guilty of masterminding a failed coup after losing the 2022 election to his leftwing opponent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and, if so, how long he should spend in jail. Legal experts believe Bolsonaro's conviction is all but guaranteed during a judgment expected to last five sessions, between 2 September and 12 September. His sentence could reach 43 years,"

Fabiano Leitao taunted Jair Bolsonaro in Brasilia with Bella Ciao and later serenaded him with Chopin's Funeral March after coup charges. Leitao plans an upbeat samba to mark a likely conviction. The supreme court will convene five judges to determine whether Bolsonaro masterminded a failed coup after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and to set a sentence. Legal experts consider conviction highly likely during hearings from 2–12 September. Bolsonaro could face up to 43 years in prison, marking a dramatic low point in his 35-year political career.

Read at www.theguardian.com