His first son is a senator for the state of Rio do Janeiro. His second son a city councilor in Rio, and his third is a congressman for the state of São Paulo. And he himself has served seven terms in Congress, as a member of several political parties. Yet Jair Bolsonaro, the favorite candidate for Brazil’s upcoming runoff presidential elections, likes to present himself as a new man who operates outside of the “system”.
The rhetoric of a new man, untainted by the culture of corruption that prevails among the political class, is a powerful device. It’s succeeded in folding the interests of disparate social categories into those of seasoned right-wing politicians.
Mr. Bolsonaro is running for the Social Liberty Party. He’s the author of incendiary pronouncements, happily racist, misogynist, and homophobic. The former army captain has managed to coalesce eclectic crowds whose commitment to democracy depends on the exclusion of entire sections of Brazilian society. He has colossal support among Brazil’s prolific evangelical communities. These have re-purposed their religious fervor to passionate hate and the demonizing of adversaries.
Mr. Bolsonaro assuages the fears of a middle class that feels it’s lost privilege. He also confirms their aversion for Brazil’s internal “others” – namely black Brazilians and various Indian communities. In fact, he promises to keep privilege spaces of university education, residential suburbs and commercial spaces free from poor people.
For Mr. Bolsonaro, the choice Brazilians...
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