Brazil's new "Center": a viable alternative to the extremes?

Dec 17, 2019 13:55 5 min read (Updated: Dec 17, 2019 14:20)

To borrow a phrase from historian Eric Hobsbawm, Brazil lives in an era of extremes. On one side, we have far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has launched a new political party with “Judeo-Christian” values and staunch opposition to gun control at its core. On the other side, we have the Workers’ Party. While remaining a center-left force, the party led by former President Lula has opted for more radical rhetoric—galvanizing anti-Bolsonaro voters but alienating those in the center.

Spearheaded by House Speaker Rodrigo Maia, a group of political parties is trying to pander precisely to this “neither, nor”...

Brazil’s new “Center”: a viable alternative to the extremes?

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