Bolsonaro once said he'd stage a military takeover. Now Brazilians fear he could be laying the found
Bolsonaro once said hed stage a military takeover. Now Brazilians fear he could be laying the foundation for one.
By
Terrence McCoy
and Gabriela Sá Pessoa
Today at 6:00 a.m. EDT
RIO DE JANEIRO In a television interview two decades ago, the fringe congressman didnt hesitate to say it: If he were president, he would shut down the Brazilian congress and stage a military takeover.
Theres not even the littlest doubt, Jair Bolsonaro said. Id stage a coup the same day [I became president,] the same day. Congress doesnt work. Im sure at least 90 percent of people would party and clap.
Now the congressman is president of Brazil, and fears are mounting here that he could be considering how to make good on that idea. Bolsonaro, a former army captain who has frequently lamented the collapse of Brazils military dictatorship, has in recent days wondered not only whether he will participate in next years elections, but also whether there will even be elections.
Next years elections have to be clean, he declared this month. Either well have clean elections, or we wont have elections.
More:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/23/brazil-bolsonaro/
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