Brasilia: Brazil will likely elect on Sunday a far-right nationalist president with a history of homophobic, misogynistic and racist remarks, but one who has flourished as the country has been rocked by corruption scandals, economic downturn and rising violence.
Former army captain Jair Bolsonaro – who openly praises Brazil’s military dictatorship, has defended torture and extrajudicial police killings – looks set to join a rising global trend of authoritarian populists.
“What is at stake is not democracy. What is at stake is the perpetuation of this rotten machine that we have there that lives off corruption, that takes away your medical care, education, security,” Bolsonaro said.
His outspoken political incorrectness draws comparisons with US President Donald Trump, while his hard line law and order stance recalls Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte whose war against drugs has left thousands dead.
“You have a real risk of authoritarian tendencies,” said Oliver Stuenkel, a professor of international relations at Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo.
“It really depends on what extent the judiciary and legislature are able and willing to push back. This is something to watch,” he said.
