Bolsominion

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Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro demonstrating in London

Bolsominion (from the English minion)[1] is a pejorative term used in Brazil to refer to supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro.[2] The term combines the surname Bolsonaro with the word minion, meaning "follower" or "supporter", and also recalls the popular animated characters from the Despicable Me franchise.[3]

The term emerged during Bolsonaro's 2018 presidential campaign.[4] It is often used by critics to describe his supporters, while some supporters reject the term, viewing it as derogatory and arguing it misrepresents their motivations, which include addressing corruption, supporting traditional family values, advocating free-market economics, and strengthening law enforcement measures.[5] Analysts note that the term's use reflects Brazil's political polarisation, where rhetorical terms are employed by various groups to frame political opponents.[6]

Characteristics and ideology

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The term "bolsominion" is usually invoked in critical or humorous contexts to describe individuals portrayed as ardent backers of Bolsonaro's leadership and agenda, often associated with conservative and populist principles.[7] Detractors depict such supporters as aligned with far-right positions, including advocacy of greater military influence in governance, opposition to progressive social policies, and support for conservative norms in education, ethics, and public safety.[8] Proponents counter that such portrayals overlook the movement's emphasis on national sovereignty, economic reform, and anti-establishment sentiment against entrenched political elites.

In digital discussions, exchanges of political insults between Bolsonaro's allies and opponents are frequent. Supporters may use terms such as "esquerdopata" ("pathological leftist") to denounce rivals, while critics respond with "direitopata" ("pathological rightist").[9] Commentators have also noted affinities between parts of Bolsonaro's constituency and the base of former U.S. president Donald Trump, citing shared populist themes.[10]

Many in the movement prefer self-identifiers such as "bolsonaristas" or "patriots," rejecting "bolsominion" as a construct of mainstream media used to disparage their patriotic motivations.[11] Surveys suggest Bolsonaro continues to command significant popular support, highlighting the resilience of his platform despite ongoing controversies.[12]

Usage and cultural impact

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The term has appeared in political commentary and popular media. In 2019, federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, one of Jair's sons, hosted a Despicable Me Minions-themed birthday party, which media outlets interpreted as a playful reference to the "bolsominion" label.[13]

After Bolsonaro's presidency, the term continued to surface in coverage of events such as the 2023 Brasília protests, where demonstrators contested alleged electoral irregularities.[14] Critics employ it to frame such mobilisation as extremist, while defenders argue it illustrates media bias against conservative voices.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Significado de Minion (O que é, Conceito e Definição)". Significados (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. ^ Layton, Matthew; Smith, Amy Erica. "Analysis | In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro's victory may mean further shifts in tolerance and moderation". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  3. ^ "A formação e a grafia do nome bolsomínion". Ciberdúvidas da Língua Portuguesa. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Jair Bolsonaro: Why Brazilian women are saying #NotHim". BBC News. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  5. ^ Cowell, Alan (1 January 2019). "Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's Far-Right President Takes Office". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  6. ^ Hunter, Wendy (2019). "Bolsonaro and Brazil's Illiberal Backlash". Journal of Democracy. 30 (1): 68–82. doi:10.1353/jod.2019.0005.
  7. ^ "Bolsominions: quem são e do que se alimentam". Extra Online (in Portuguese). 27 April 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  8. ^ Fernandes, Peterson (27 May 2019). "Na caverna do mito". Medium (in Portuguese). Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Bolsominions: quem são? Onde vivem? Do que se alimentam? Como se reproduzem?". Socialista Morena (in Portuguese). 21 November 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Churrascaria nos EUA simboliza divisão de brasileiros sobre Bolsonaro". BBC News Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Brazilian Capitol attack: The interaction between Bolsonaro's supporters' content, WhatsApp, Twitter, and news media". Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  12. ^ "4. Brazilians' views of Lula and Bolsonaro". Pew Research Center. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Eduardo Bolsonaro ganha festa com o tema 'Minions' em referência a 'Bolsominion'". Amazonas1 (in Portuguese). 11 July 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  14. ^ "What you need to know about Bolsonaro's coup plot trial". BBC News. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Brazil Country Report 2024". BTI Transformation Index. 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2025.

Bibliography

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