Bolsonaro 2.0: Brazil braces for the return of the far right
Neck-and-neck with Lula in polls, Flávio Bolsonaro fires up his base in the bellwether state of Minas Gerais – starting at the scene of his father’s stabbing
TL;DR
- Flávio Bolsonaro is campaigning in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, a crucial battleground state, with the presidential election looming.
- Supporters gathered to welcome Flávio Bolsonaro, expressing hope for his presidency and the potential release of his incarcerated father, Jair Bolsonaro.
- The election is tight, with both Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro polling closely.
- Recent corruption scandals involving Lula's son and the supreme court have boosted Bolsonaro's campaign momentum.
- Progressives fear a return to the radical right, recalling Jair Bolsonaro's presidency which included environmental destruction, high COVID-19 death tolls, and attacks on democracy.
- Juiz de Fora has historical significance, being the site of a 1964 coup and Jair Bolsonaro's 2018 stabbing.
- Supporters of Flávio Bolsonaro are passionate, with some expressing extreme devotion and others viewing him as a modern leader.
- Opponents worry about Flávio Bolsonaro's proposed policies, including zero-tolerance policing, looser gun laws, conservative supreme court appointments, and stricter measures against criminals.
- The state of Minas Gerais is a bellwether, with no candidate having won the presidency without winning here since democracy returned.
- Political analysts describe the election as too close to call, with potential for unexpected events to influence the outcome.
- Flávio Bolsonaro is under police investigation for corruption related to a biopic about the assassination attempt on his father.
- Leftwing activists express dismay and fear that the public may forget past events, potentially leading to a second Bolsonaro presidency.