The government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva celebrated Independence Day this Sunday (07) with the traditional Civic-Military Parade of 7 September, held at the Esplanade of Ministries, in Brasilia, under the theme “Brazil Sovereign”.
The official program was structured in three main axes: “Brazil of Brazilians”, “COP 30” and “Brazil of the Future”. The choice of theme was interpreted as a symbolic response to the recent criticism of former US President Donald Trump, who mentioned Brazil by commenting on former President Jair Bolsonaro’s trial in the Supreme Court (STF).
The parade began around 9am, with the arrival of President Lula and the first lady Janja in open car. The ceremony began with the execution of the national anthem, followed by the civic-military presentations.
According to estimates from the Federal District Government, about 50,000 people attended the event – 30,000 in the stands set up on the Esplanada and another 20,000 scattered around the surroundings. However, the official audience has not yet been disclosed.
The event was attended by several federal government authorities, including Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and ministers Gleisi Hoffmann (Institutional Relations) and Mauro Vieira (Foreign Relations). The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta (Republicans), also attended. The STF ministers were not present at this year’s parade.
Highlights of the parade:
The civic-military parade program had several presentations aligned with the theme of national sovereignty and the environmental and social agenda of the federal government. Among the highlights were:
- Students wearing shirts with the letters that form the word “sovereignty”
- Young people parading with a 140sqm Brazilian flag
- Presentation of Bahia’s Neojibá Band, formed by young people in socially vulnerable
- Children with Cop 30 shirts holding seedlings of plants
- Curupira Parade, COP 30 Official Mascot
- Participation of students from the Pé-Degena Program and students prominent at Enem
- Parade of athletes benefited by the athlete Bolsa
- Presence of the character Zé Gotinha, alongside health professionals, in reference to the importance of SUS
- Closing with the presentation of the Smoke Squadron
