Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro launched his candidacy for October’s presidential election at a rally in Rio on Sunday, again criticizing the Supreme Court and his leading opponent in the polls, former leftist President Lula.
Jair Bolsonaro urged his supporters to support him by taking to the streets on September 7, National Day, as they did last year with anti-democratic slogans in certain demonstrations.
“I call on all of you to take to the streets for the last time on September 7,” he declared with a fiery tone, attacking the Federal Supreme Court (STF) as usual. “These few deaf people in black coats must understand what the voice of the people is,” he said about this institution.
“The Supreme is the people!” His followers responded.
Lula’s favorite in the polls
Jair Bolsonaro said he prayed to God “so that Brazil never knows the pain of communism”, in reference to Luis Inácio Lula da Silva whom he accused, without naming him, of wanting to restrict freedoms if he returns to power on the occasion of the presidential elections of 2 and October 30, of which he is the great favorite.
According to the latest Datafolha poll, conducted in June, the founder of the Workers’ Party (PT) would obtain 47% of the votes in the first round, well ahead of Jair Bolsonaro (28%).
The outgoing head of state launched a direct appeal to young Brazilians, most of whom, according to polls, prefer Lula: “We must attract young leftists to our field, show them the truth (…). Where Others in South America have supported their candidate, look at the misery of these countries, look at Venezuela (…), look at where our Argentina is going, with 50% of its inhabitants near the poverty line.
bulletproof vest under his shirt
This candidacy announcement was made on the occasion of the Liberal Party (PL) convention, at the Maracanazinho gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro. Twelve thousand people followed the speech, its organizers assured, although the covered stadium did not seem full.
The president appeared on stage wearing a bulletproof vest under his shirt, while a major security device, including metal detectors, was put on.
A month before the 2018 presidential election, which he won, Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed in the stomach during a rally.
Source: BFM TV
