Jair Bolsonaro: Far-right candidate wins Brazil poll

[sandensea]

Source: BBC News

Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro has won a sweeping victory in Brazil's presidential election.

With nearly 98% of the vote counted, Mr Bolsonaro has 55.4% of the votes against 44.6% for Fernando Haddad from the left-wing Workers Party.

Mr Bolsonaro campaigned on a promise to eradicate corruption and to drive down Brazil's high crime levels. The election campaign has been deeply divisive. Each camp argued that victory for the other could destroy Brazil.

The result represents a marked right-wing swing in the country, which was under military rule from 1964 to 1985.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-46013408

---

Jair Bolsonaro and the runner-up, Workers' Party nominee Fernando Haddad.

The openly fascist Bolsonaro is part of a recent trend toward hard-right governments in South America. The result, as neighboring Argentina has learned, can often be a fry cry from expectations.

[meadowlark5]

1. I bet Trump will call and congratulate him

But can't be bothered to call anyone who had bombs mailed to them.

I've read about this guy. Brazil apparently has a bunch of stupid, hateful, exclusionary deplorables like the US. Have fun.

[Polybius]

17. He just did

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2018/oct/28/brazil-election-2018-second-round-of-voting-closes-as-bolsonaro-eyes-the-presidency-live

From the article:

Trump is yet to tweet congratulations to Bolsonaro, but the Brazilian president-elect wrote on Twitter: “We just received a call from the President of the United States, @realDonaldTrump congratulating us on this historic election!” We express the desire to bring these two great nations closer together and to advance on the path of freedom and prosperity!”

[elmac]

2. they will soon regret this but their elections are controlled by big money

just like ours.

[sandensea]

3. They probably will indeed, judging from neighboring Argentina

Three years ago, they narrowly elected a semi-fascist (Mauricio Macri), who promised them lower taxes, more growth, less crime, a "rainstorm" of foreign investment, and of course fewer dark-skinned immigrants.

After reneging on just about every campaign promise (except those he made to big-business backers), the results speak for themselves: An unmitigated disaster - complete with an IMF bailout.

Will Bolsonaro adopt Bushonomics, like Macri did? Remains to seen.

But as you pointed out: That's what they paid him to do.

[elmac]

4. most rightwing elections in S.A. are influenced by US rightwing think tanks

who's goal is to create a perfect, fascist libertarian dictatorship. The main goal being to do the same here and they have a good start.

[sandensea]

5. +1

Big business has pretty much tired of democracy, and is all in on installing Cheetos, Rob Fords, Macris, and Bolsonazis wherever they can.

[SergeStorms]

6. Soon to become...

Donald's new "bestie". Now he won't have to travel all the way to Russia or Korea to kiss the ass of his fascist dictator du jour.

[obamanut2012]

7. My Brazilian friends on twitter are freaking out

They are terrified, even more than we were in 2016.

[LeftishBrit]

8. Heartbreaking.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

9. This is a goddamn disaster!! nt

[sandensea]

10. And like Cheeto, bought and paid for by big business

Behind Bolsonaro's carnival barker appeal and nationalist rhetoric, his economic policy meister, Paulo Guedes, is planning to impose Bushonomics in Brazil.

Because it's worked sooo well in neighboring Argentina.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

12. Lather, rinse, repeat....... Same shitty result. nt

[Initech]

16. The corporate coup of the 2010s.

Unfortunately there was no Smedley Butler to stop them this time around. Putin has deployed his version of Skynet and it's knocking off one country at a time.

[sandensea]

26. Good point.

Brazil, unfortunately, uses electronic voting in most of its states - such that between Putin and Brazil's own government, the motivation and opportunities for skewing the results toward Bolsonaro are practically endless.

Of course, the biggest single help Bolsonaro got was from the dictator, Temer, himself: jailing Lula da Silva and barring him from running knocked the clear frontrunner out of the race, thus making a Bolsonaro win almost inevitable.

[appalachiablue]

11. Real bad news for Brazil & democracy. Still, keep up the fight for progress.

The Guardian, Oct. 28, 'Opponents Fear Far-Right Will Plunge Brazil Back Into Authoritarianism.'



But there was also concern outside the polling station about the consequences of electing a populist provocateur notorious for praising Brazil’s 1964-85 military regime and foreign autocrats. “In the current climate, we are scared of a candidate like this.”

After casting his vote for Haddad at Gonzaguinha primary school, Antonio da Silva Lima, a bricklayer, said he was rooting for a reversal that would prevent Bolsonaro plunging Brazil back into authoritarianism. “I lived through the dictatorship and we don’t want to go back to that. It’s dangerous,” said Lima, 61. “I know what dictatorship means. It means torture, do you know what I’m saying?”
“If you ask him about education he talks about the economy, if you ask about the economy he talks about security … Haddad is the only one with actual proposals.”

“The way Bolsonaro’s people talk is aggressive,” Albuquerque added. “They’re always swearing.” Francisco Rodrigues, 33, foresaw a return to the bad old days of poverty and police repression should Bolsonaro emerge victorious. “Dirt roads and police humiliation,” he predicted, recalling occasions in the past when he had been forced to walk past bullet-riddled corpses on his way to work.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/28/jair-bolsonaro-on-brink-of-victory-in-brazil-as-fears-for-democracy-grow

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/28/jair-bolsonaro-wins-brazil-presidential-election

Over nearly three decades in politics, he has become notorious for his hostility to black, gay and indigenous Brazilians and to women, as well as for his admiration of dictatorial regimes, including the one that ruled Brazil from 1964 until 1985. “The extreme right has conquered Brazil,” Celso Rocha de Barros, a Brazilian political columnist, told the election night webcast of Piauí magazine. “Brazil now has a more extremist president than any democratic country in the world ... we don’t know what is going to happen.”

[Initech]

13. Putin has to go!

I'm normally against war, but I would love seeing Putin bombed back to the stone ages. Fuck that guy.

[roamer65]

33. I agree wholeheartedly.

[Judi Lynn]

14. It's far easier to take horrible news from someone who is above reproach. So glad you posted this.

The people can only hope that the fascists won't be able to inflict as much suffering this time in Brazil, and Argentina as they did during the days they destroyed their economies and kept those born without power and privilege struggling daily to survive, and living in absolute terror.

We'll be watching, waiting, hoping daily the people will get their voices back so much faster than their self-appointed masters expected.

[Polybius]

15. How is this possible?

Every Brazilian that I know is devastated on my Facebook feed. Normally, I'd suspect election fraud, but every poll had this nut leading too. I just don't understand.

[Initech]

18. Putin and his troll army knocked off another country.

And they're coming for Italy and Germany. We're fucked.

[Blue_Tires]

19. And for all his smug ivory tower denialism, now fascism has arrived at Glenn Greenwald's doorstep

But seriously, this is a dark day for the rest of Brasil... Were they really that nostalgic for the old Military Junta to return??

[Judi Lynn]

20. The Latest: Argentina, Chile leaders congratulate Bolsonaro

Updated 7:15 pm CDT, Sunday, October 28, 2018



Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, presidential candidate with the Social Liberal Party, sing the national anthem in front of his house during the presidential runoff election, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Bolsonaro is running against leftist candidate Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party. Photo: Silvia Izquierdo, AP / Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Photo: Silvia Izquierdo, AP
IMAGE 1 OF 9

SAO PAULO (AP) — The latest on Brazil's presidential runoff (all times local):

8:50 p.m.

The conservative presidents of Argentina and Chile are congratulating Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right congressman who won the presidency of Latin America's largest nation Sunday.

In his congratulatory tweet, Argentine President Mauricio Macri added: "I hope to work together for the good of the relationship of our countries and the welfare of Argentines and Brazilians."

SAO PAULO (AP) — The latest on Brazil's presidential runoff (all times local):

8:50 p.m.

The conservative presidents of Argentina and Chile are congratulating Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right congressman who won the presidency of Latin America's largest nation Sunday.

In his congratulatory tweet, Argentine President Mauricio Macri added: "I hope to work together for the good of the relationship of our countries and the welfare of Argentines and Brazilians."

. . .

President Sebastian Pinera of Chile used Twitter to send praise to Brazil, saying: "I congratulate the Brazilian people for a clean and democratic election."

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/The-Latest-Brazilians-begin-voting-for-next-13342943.php

(Both leaders, Macri and Pinera, have been publicly known, like Bolsonaro, for years, for their complete support for their countries' earlier military dictatorships, which also kidnapped, tortured, and disappeared many suspected leftists.)

[sandensea]

24. I just hope for Brazil's sake he doesn't adopt Bushonomics, like Macri did.

Behind Bolsonaro's carnival barker appeal and nationalist rhetoric, his economic policy meister, Paulo Guedes, is planning to do just that.

But then, that's what his backers paid him to do.

Qué será.

[Judi Lynn]

21. AP Explains: How Brazil's Bolsonaro used Trump tactics

Sarah Dilorenzo and Peter Prengaman, Associated Press
Updated 11:41 am CDT, Sunday, October 28, 2018

SAO PAULO (AP) — Observers have long flirted with the idea that far-right Brazilian congressman Jair Bolsonaro, the front-runner in Sunday's presidential runoff, was a "tropical Trump." Bolsonaro has presented himself as someone who tells it like it is while promising to dismantle a dysfunctional political system, and who seeks to capture the imagination of many citizens afraid of losing their place in an increasingly diverse and inclusive society.

While U.S. President Donald Trump and Bolsonaro have many differences — before running, Trump was a billionaire businessman while Bolsonaro was long-time congressman with few legislative victories — many tactics used in their campaigns were remarkably similar.

___

'STRAIGHT TALK'

Perhaps the biggest similarity and likely the one that initially gave rise to the comparisons between Bolsonaro and Trump is that neither man appears to measure his words. In the 2016 U.S. elections, Trump often billed himself as the man who wasn't afraid to say what everyone else was thinking. Bolsonaro shares the same lack of filter. Some of the comments that have gotten him in trouble reflect longstanding ideological positions, like his repeated praise for Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship. Other comments may be more off the cuff and a wink at his reputation for shunning the "politically correct," like when he told an audience that he had a daughter "in a moment of weakness" after four sons. Both men "enjoy being outrageous and making statements for shock value," said Paulo Sotero, the director of the Brazil Institute at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington.

___

BASH MAINSTREAM MEDIA

Bolsonaro and his three oldest sons, who are also politicians, have hammered away at Brazil's main media organizations, accusing them of everything from telling outright lies about the candidate to ignoring his rise in the polls and endorsements from other politicians. Like Trump, they accuse the media of propping up the country's traditional elite and of trying to derail a campaign that might threaten it. Earlier this month, daily Folha de S. Paulo reported that Bolsonaro's campaign may have broken campaign finance laws because friendly businessmen were allegedly bankrolling blast messages on WhatsApp. Bolsonaro has responded by repeatedly calling Folha "fake news" and promising to punish it by cutting off government advertising.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/AP-Explains-How-Brazil-s-Bolsonaro-used-Trump-13342611.php

[dalton99a]

22. Very bad news

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/28/world/americas/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-election.html

Reeling from the deepest recession in the country’s history, a corruption scandal that tarnished politicians across the ideological spectrum, and a record-high number of homicides last year, Brazilians picked a candidate who not only rejected the political establishment but at times also seemed to reject the most basic democratic tenets.

Mr. Bolsonaro’s victory caps a bitter contest that divided families, tore friendships apart and ignited concerns about the resilience of Brazil’s young democracy.

Many Brazilians see authoritarian tendencies in Mr. Bolsonaro, who plans to appoint military leaders to top posts and said he would not accept the result if he were to lose. He has threatened to stack the Supreme Court by increasing the number of judges to 21 from 11 and to deal with political foes by giving them the choice of extermination or exile.

He accomplished little in his long legislative career, but his roster of offensive remarks — he said that he’d rather his son die than be gay and that women don’t deserve the same pay as men — was interpreted by many as bracing honesty and evidence of his willingness to shatter the status quo.

“The way he’s run his campaign is very clever,” said Matias Spektor, a professor of international relations at Fundação Getulio Vargas University. “He has managed to align himself with the institutions that Brazilians still believe in: religion, family and armed forces.”

Mr. Bolsonaro, the patriarch of a family from Rio de Janeiro that includes three sons who are also lawmakers, ran an insurgent campaign that defied the political playbook that brought his predecessors to power.

A year ago, Mr. Bolsonaro’s bid was widely regarded by political veterans in Brasília as fanciful in a nation renowned for the cordiality and warmth of its people. Some of the candidate’s remarks were so offensive the country’s attorney general earlier this year charged him with inciting hatred toward black, gay and indigenous people. In a country where most of the population is not white, this alone might have seemed to disqualify him.

[BeckyDem]

23. omg what a nightmare.

[Judi Lynn]

25. Brazil elects far-right congressman Bolsonaro to presidency

Brazil elects far-right congressman Bolsonaro to presidency
Sarah Dilorenzo, Peter Prengaman and Mauricio Savarese, Associated Press
Updated 9:35 pm CDT, Sunday, October 28, 2018



SAO PAULO (AP) — Jair Bolsonaro, a brash far-right congressman who has waxed nostalgic for Brazil's old military dictatorship, won the presidency of Latin America's largest nation Sunday as voters looked past warnings that he would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil.

The former army captain, who cast himself as a political outsider despite a 27-year career in Congress, became the latest world leader to rise to power by mixing tough, often violent talk with hard-right positions. His victory reflected widespread anger at the political class after years of corruption, an economy that has struggled to recover after a punishing recession and a surge in violence.

. . .

Bolsonaro, who ran on promises to clean up Brazil and bring back "traditional values," said he would respect the constitution and personal liberty.

. . .

Later, he said in a Facebook Live transmission that he had received a call from some world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump who wished him good luck.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Brazil-yearns-for-change-but-some-say-democracy-13342569.php#photo-16410172
















Bolsonaro after he had allegedly been stabbed. It appears he took it well.



The terrifying attack.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

27. Whoops, there goes the Amazon.....

Bolsonaro backers wage war on the rainforest
Most in Brazil’s heavily-deforested western border support Jair Bolsonaro and his promises of progress instead of protection
by Dom Phillips in Porto Velho

Link: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/24/bolsonaro-backers-wage-war-on-the-rainforest

In the Amazon, Bolsonaro has promised progress instead of protection.

And his radical proposals – to neuter federal environment agencies, give the green light to destructive hydro-electric dams, freeze the demarcation of new indigenous reserves and open up existing ones to mining – chime with voters here, including those breaking environmental laws. Loggers, illegal gold miners and squatters on a protected reserve all told the Guardian they are voting for Bolsonaro because they believe he will make their lives easier.

Environmentalists argue Bolsonaro’s plans will prove disastrous for the Amazon and 33 non-government groups have warned his proposals represent “concrete and irreversible risks” to Brazil’s forests, biodiversity and even the reputations of its agribusiness producers.

Sad day for the entire planet. Laissez-faire and greed is destroying humanity. Drip, drip, drip........

[Judi Lynn]

28. Information from last week:Brazil newspaper asks probe of threats to election reporter

Brazil newspaper asks probe of threats to election reporter
Stan Lehman, Associated Press
Updated 5:19 pm CDT, Wednesday, October 24, 2018

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's biggest newspaper said Wednesday that it has asked federal police to investigate threats against a journalist whose story alleged backers of the front-running presidential candidate bankrolled a fake news campaign.

. . .

The newspaper Folha de S. Paulo last week ran a report by Patricia Campos Mello saying businessmen linked to right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro had paid to spread fake news on the WhatsApp messaging service to benefit his candidacy. It said a blast message campaign also was planned for this week.

. . .

The newspaper said Wednesday that there are indications Bolsonaro's campaign is threatening freedom of the press. The paper said Campos Mello has received numerous threats via WhatsApp and email.

"You should think about your son and his future. For your safety I would leave Brazil," read one of the threats contained in a document filed by the newspaper Tuesday requesting the investigation.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Reporters-receiving-threats-amid-heated-Brazil-13333354.php

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

29. He flat out says he wants a military dictatorship

and conservatives here are cheering.

Remember how they used to pretend to be motivated by "freedom?"

That was hilarious.

[Judi Lynn]

30. He's already had his congratulatory call from Trump, of course.

Now all the dictators are going to fight among themselves to determine who is really the richest, most important, powerful.

[ancianita]

31. My Argentinian friends, grieving, posted a video of troops parading on trucks through the streets.

Goodbye Amazon, is exactly right.

Goodbye lungs of Earth.

We're going to hell in the capitalist handbasket.

[roamer65]

34. Just wait...in a few years...the actual percentage of O2 in the atmosphere will start falling.

That’s when people will freak out. Big time.

[Judi Lynn]

32. Brazil elects far-right president, worrying rights groups

By SARAH DiLORENZO, PETER PRENGAMAN and MAURICIO SAVARESE
an hour ago

SAO PAULO (AP) — In some of his first words to the nation as president-elect, far-right politician Jair Bolsonaro promised to defend the constitution and unite a bitterly divided populace.

His left-wing rival immediately vowed to mount a vigorous opposition, while rights groups warned against a rollback of civil liberties.

That juxtaposition underscored the reality that the end of the election was not the end of acrimony and that myriad challenges lay ahead for Latin America’s largest nation.

. . .

Bolsonaro spent much of the campaign exploiting divisions, taking to Twitter to lambaste the rival Workers’ Party as unethical and dangerous. In recent weeks, Brazilians were bombarded with WhatsApp messages that condemned Workers’ Party candidate Fernando Haddad, often making outrageous claims.

. . .

- click for image -

https://storage.googleapis.com/afs-prod/media/media:b9ed0fee94ce444d94b3bd9be6b5d7fd/800.jpeg

A Bolsonaro supporter poses for a photo with an oversized, fake rifle as she celebrates his election victory. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

More:
https://apnews.com/bb8378529f4d473e868aeb378f821376