Monarchism in Brazil

The flag of the Empire of Brazil is widely used by Brazilian monarchists

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After the 1889 coup d'état that ended the imperial rule and established a republic in Brazil, the first monarchist nucleus began to form. Under the republican rule, they were a minority and initially even illegal. In 1890, the Brazilian Monarchical Directory was founded by Afonso Celso, the last Prime Minister of the Empire of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Its main objective was to organise the country's monarchists and to report directly with the exiled Brazilian Imperial Family.

Eduardo Prado was a journalist and staunch monarchist who wrote, in 1893, A Ilusão Americana ("American Illusion"), criticising republicans and American imperialism. It was the first literary work to be censored by the newly established republic.

Many famous personalities in Brazil have declared themselves convicted monarchists.

Among the most famous names are Machado de Assis, Joaquim Nabuco, Baron of Rio Branco, André Rebouças, Viscount of Taunay, João Camilo de Oliveira Torres, Carlos de Laet and Count of Mota Maia.

Some monarchists, however, were victims of the republican regime. Among them is José da Costa Azevedo, the Baron of Ladario, who was shot by an unknown marksman for resisting an arrest warrant during 15 November, surviving only because a student, Carlos Vieira Ferreira, rescued him.

Another little known case is the murder of Colonel Gentil de Castro during the Canudos War. Owner of the monarchist newspapers Gazeta da Tarde and Gazeta da Liberdade, he was shot by unknown attackers in Rio de Janeiro.[4]

A list of some notable monarchists by date of birth:

According to the Los Angeles Times, the level of support for a return of monarchy has remained fairly steady with 10.3% in the 1993 referendum and 10.7% in a 2017 survey by pollster Paraná Pesquisas.[5]

Luiz Philippe of Orléans-Braganza, nephew of the current Head of the Vasourian pretenders to the Imperial House of Brazil, is known in the Brazilian academical environment. He is an active member of liberal movements in the country.[6] On 28 February, he announced his pre-candidacy to federal deputy for the state of São Paulo by the New Party.[7]

Politically, the movement is still small. In 2016, journalist Paulo Eduardo Martins, known for his monarchist positions, was elected federal deputy.[8] The movement now hopes to raise public awareness of the issue and discuss the possibility of a new plebiscite similar to the one of 1993. In early 2017, a legislative idea was launched on the website of the Federal Senate to hold a referendum on the restoration of the monarchy in Brazil. Needing 20,000 votes in favour, it reached the mark of 32,000 votes and was converted into a legislative suggestion, already sent to the Commission of Human Rights of the Brazilian Federal Senate for debate, awaiting a rapporteur. On 10 August 2017, a state deputy from Minas Gerais sent a motion of support to the legislative suggestion to the President of the Senate through the Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais, although this motion was not subject to a vote by the full membership of the assembly.[9] On 14 November 2017, the state of Rondônia did the same by sending a motion to support the referendum proposal for the restoration of the monarchy to the federal senate through its legislative assembly.[10]

In 2015, some Brazilian monarchists started appearing with Brazil's imperial flag in military parades and similar events during Independence Day, an act known as the National "Bandeiraço" of Independence (bandeiraço may be translated as "great flag demonstration"). In 2016, the act was carried out nationally, in 16 cities. In 2017, 34 cities participated.[11]

National "Bandeiraço" of the Independence in Anápolis, Goiás, in 7 September 2017.

The most recognised pretender to the Brazilian throne is Prince Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza. He is the head of the called Vassouras branch of the Imperial Family, since it was divided after the resignation of his great-uncle Pedro de Alcântara, Prince of Grão-Pará in 1908. The descendants of Prince Pedro de Alcântara did not accept his resignation and maintained an active claim to the throne until the death of his elder son, Prince Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza in 2007, whose claim passed to his son, Prince Pedro Carlos of Orléans-Braganza, head of the Petrópolis branch.[12]

There is no official research on public opinion regarding which form of government is preferred in Brazil. However, the emergence and growth of monarchist activity and organisations throughout the country is visible, especially in anti-government protests.[13] Currently, according to an online poll conducted on the Brazilian Senate's website, 93% of the participants expressed support for a referendum on the restoration of the monarchy as a constitutional monarchy. This legislative suggestion has been terminally rejected by the legislative committee responsible for appraising it.[14]