No Script

Please Wait...

Ramadan Kareem...

Brazil Elections: Far-Right Leader Jair Bolsonaro Wins Presidency

Brazil Elections: Far-Right Leader Jair Bolsonaro Wins Presidency
folder_openLatin America access_time5 years ago
starAdd to favorites

Local Editor

Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential elections, signaling a political shift for South America's most populous nation and largest economy.

Official results gave Bolsonaro a 55.2 percent share of the vote in Sunday's runoff, comfortably ahead of Fernando Haddad, the candidate of the center-left Workers' Party (PT), who had 44.8 percent.

Bolsonaro gave an internet address via Facebook Live, shunning a traditional press conference because of security concerns. In September, he suffered a near-fatal stabbing at a campaign rally.

"We could no longer be flirting with socialism, communism, populism and extremism on the left," he said.

Bolsonaro said US President Donald Trump - whom he has expressed admiration for - called to wish him good luck after his victory in what he called "obviously a very friendly contact".

Supporters wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Bolsonaro's face and Brazil's yellow and green national colours assembled outside his house in the Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro.

In Sao Paulo, supporters gathered on Avenida Paulista, the city's main thoroughfare, with flags and banners that read Bolsonaro's "Brazil above everything, God above everyone" slogan.

Analysts suggest change is inevitable with Bolsonaro now in power.

"Brazil will not become a dictatorship, we won't see Congress closed," said Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist and professor of international relations at Rio de Janeiro State University.

"But we know from experience in other countries that electing an extreme president brings bad consequences for democracy."

Elsewhere, in the gubernatorial elections, in Sao Paulo, former mayor, media tycoon and once-host of Brazil's version of The Apprentice TV programme Joao Doria won the race against incumbent Marcio Franca.

In Rio de Janeiro, Bolsonaro ally and former judge Wilson Witzel beat Eduardo Paes who presided as mayor for two terms, included when the city hosted the 2016 Olympics.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

Comments

Breaking news