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talkpolitics2022-09-27 09:38 pm
luzribeiro) wrote in talkpolitics2022-09-27 09:38 pm
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The largest democracy in the southern hemisphere is under threat
"We have to kill over 30,000 people." These words were uttered by the current president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, the 1990s. They reek of nostalgia for the Brazilian military dictatorship that lasted from 1964 to 1985.
New presidential elections are coming up on October 2 in Brazil, which, according to all polls, Bolsonaro will lose to his opponent Lula da Silva. You know, the same Lula who was previously ousted.
However, Bolsonaro doesn't seem to care about some pesky polls. Similar to Donald Trump a couple of years ago in the US, Bolsonaro has already announced that the election will be manipulated by his opponents. There's of course not an ounce of credence or logic in his claims as he actually currently holds all power in Brazil. But yeah, just like Trump he doesn't want to lose his grip on power, right?
To remind, Trump's statements incited a mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol, the seat of Congress. And let's not fool ourselves, now Bolsonaro's actions and words could well lead to a coup and civil war in Brazil. Such events in the largest country and economy in the Southern Hemisphere would have global consequences.
"There are only three alternatives for me - to be arrested, to be killed or to win. And I can tell you I'll never go to prison," Bolsonaro said at a campaign rally. You're welcome to make whatever you want of this.
Although he came to power on promises to crack down on corruption, he, his family members and associates are currently subject to a series of embezzlement investigations. Bolsonaro has now issued an ultimatum that if he does not win the presidential election on the first round, receiving at least 60% of the vote, "something extraordinary will happen".
In recent years, the number of legal firearms owned by the population in Brazil has doubled. And although he is about to lose the election, Bolsonaro, just like Trump in the US, has the support of a large number of fanatically loyal supporters. Like Trump, he has questioned the ability of Brazil's electoral system to hold fair elections. Bolsonaro's main criticism is against the voting machines, never mind that he doesn't have any real arguments to back this up. In Brazil, all voting is done by machine. They are proven safe and apparently in no way prevented Bolsonaro from winning the previous presidential election.
However, there's one important difference between Trump and Bolsonaro. Brazil's current president is ex-military and has broad support among the country's armed forces and police. Whether this support is enough to carry out a coup d'état is difficult to say. But his words and actions thus far indicate that he is very likely to try.
New presidential elections are coming up on October 2 in Brazil, which, according to all polls, Bolsonaro will lose to his opponent Lula da Silva. You know, the same Lula who was previously ousted.
However, Bolsonaro doesn't seem to care about some pesky polls. Similar to Donald Trump a couple of years ago in the US, Bolsonaro has already announced that the election will be manipulated by his opponents. There's of course not an ounce of credence or logic in his claims as he actually currently holds all power in Brazil. But yeah, just like Trump he doesn't want to lose his grip on power, right?
To remind, Trump's statements incited a mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol, the seat of Congress. And let's not fool ourselves, now Bolsonaro's actions and words could well lead to a coup and civil war in Brazil. Such events in the largest country and economy in the Southern Hemisphere would have global consequences.
"There are only three alternatives for me - to be arrested, to be killed or to win. And I can tell you I'll never go to prison," Bolsonaro said at a campaign rally. You're welcome to make whatever you want of this.
Although he came to power on promises to crack down on corruption, he, his family members and associates are currently subject to a series of embezzlement investigations. Bolsonaro has now issued an ultimatum that if he does not win the presidential election on the first round, receiving at least 60% of the vote, "something extraordinary will happen".
In recent years, the number of legal firearms owned by the population in Brazil has doubled. And although he is about to lose the election, Bolsonaro, just like Trump in the US, has the support of a large number of fanatically loyal supporters. Like Trump, he has questioned the ability of Brazil's electoral system to hold fair elections. Bolsonaro's main criticism is against the voting machines, never mind that he doesn't have any real arguments to back this up. In Brazil, all voting is done by machine. They are proven safe and apparently in no way prevented Bolsonaro from winning the previous presidential election.
However, there's one important difference between Trump and Bolsonaro. Brazil's current president is ex-military and has broad support among the country's armed forces and police. Whether this support is enough to carry out a coup d'état is difficult to say. But his words and actions thus far indicate that he is very likely to try.
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