Second, the front-runner, Congressman Jair Bolsonaro, was stabbed while campaigning on Sept. 6 and nearly died. These facts are important themselves, but the emotions behind them, and what they represent, are also vital to the overall context.https://www.apnews.com/c8738209663040b29488f41c0a3fcd48/Stabbing-of-candidate-shakes-Brazil's-presidential-race …
-
-
Show this thread
-
When da Silva, who everybody here just calls Lula, left office in 2011, his approval ratings were in the stratosphere. Under his predecessor, Dilma Rousseff, the economy started weakening. In the years before this, Brazil was a darling of the emerging markets.
Show this thread -
In 2016, Rousseff is impeached and ousted for illegally managing the federal budget. She has always denied wrongdoing, arguing the whole thing was a 'coup.'
Show this thread -
Really important in the general context is the so-called 'Carwash' probe, which begins in 2014. It's worth pointing out here that this bribery scheme is possibly the largest in world history. Let that sink in for a moment.
Show this thread -
Billions of dollars came from contracts from state oil company Petrobras. Construction companies like Odebrecht got inflated contracts, then funneled a lot to politicians and other officials.https://apnews.com/b293334760bd40bc8b57898050b6ba20 …
Show this thread -
Many of Brazil's top businessmen and politicians got caught up in Carwash, or Lava Jato in Portuguese. Lula was one of them. Last year, Lula was convicted of trading favors with construction company OAS in exchange for the promise of a beachfront apartment.
Show this thread -
Lula has always said this case and several other pending corruption cases against him are politically motivated. Many international figures have gotten behind him. It's worth looking closely at the case to make up your own mind. https://www.apnews.com/bcbbe6a123c0407e9bf67b86e6e0bdb6/Lula-conviction-in-Brazil-spotlight:-Was-it-sham-or-solid …?
Show this thread -
The bottom line, however, is that Lula's absence in the election means that many voters feel a bit lost. Many feel lost anyway because of all the corruption conviction and other allegations.https://www.apnews.com/a726b80e62ff4bd3bb7f5c5915b042d2/With-Brazil's-da-Silva-in-jail,-his-region's-vote-in-doubt …
Show this thread -
As expected, Lula was barred from running. Then Lula's Workers' Party named ex-Sao Paulo mayor as its candidate. Haddad is relatively unknown. He needs Lula's name recognition, but is also trying to show voters he would be his own man. https://www.apnews.com/eeb320cb74d34618be9573b04ccdecfe/Brazil-race-begins-in-earnest-with-da-Silva-off-party-ticket …
Show this thread -
Now let's get back to Bolsonaro. The former army captain is best known for controversial things he has said throughout his career. He has been a congressman 27 years. In that span, two bills he proposed were made into law.https://www.apnews.com/8efabe67c4054f25bbde82dbc9c02b0f/In-Brazil-Congress,-Bolsonaro's-record-thin;-army-was-focus …
Show this thread -
What Bolsonaro has been able to say, however, is that he is not corrupt like much of the political class. His hard line on violence and promises of major economic reforms also get voters' attention. All of this has really resonated with many.https://www.apnews.com/66444c23902c43ed916c48228003c484/Brazil-business-community-rallying-around-rightist …
Show this thread -
What about the stabbing of Bolsonaro? Police have said the guy who did it acted alone and was mentally unstable. For Bolsonaro supporters, however, the incident added to the narrative that God wants him to takeover Brazil.
Show this thread -
In the month since being stabbed, Bolsonaro's numbers in the polls have gone up by about 15 percent. How is that when he hasn't been able to campaign? Ah, but there is Facebook and Twitter, and social media have always been Bolsonaro's strengths.
Show this thread -
That is not to say it's been all increasing support for Bolsonaro. Last weekend, women's groups organized some huge demonstrations, just one of many examples of mobilizations against him.https://www.apnews.com/f2199d02eca8442e97a8baa69d2cacab/Tens-of-thousands-say-'Not-him'-to-leading-Brazil-candidate …
Show this thread -
Still, Bolsonaro has strong support in many areas, including in circles of evangelical voters, a growing force in Brazil.https://www.apnews.com/bef042d5f5c94bd484987b3494564a5d/Evangelicals,-growing-force-in-Brazil,-to-impact-elections …
Show this thread -
Many have made the point that for Brazilians, the elections may ultimately come down to voting for the candidate they think represents the 'least evil.' Or perhaps not voting at all, which brings its own problems.https://www.apnews.com/c0bb43f9e3134ae1a258a1087c7143d6/Abstentions-in-Brazil-election-could-hurt-governability …
Show this thread -
Finally, it's worth noting that this election also includes unprecedented participation by groups traditionally on the margins, such as indigenous and transgender people. In short, it's not all just about the presidential race. https://www.apnews.com/69acc92326d54693a138e0505bca41da/Transgender-candidates-in-Brazil-push-to-have-voices-heard …
Show this thread -
For example, there has not been an indigenous person in Congress since the early 1980s. That may change this cycle.https://www.apnews.com/6978bc470ffa4aeb8349963767ead0ee/With-rights-under-threat,-Brazil's-indigenous-run-for-office …
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.