Brazil will hold its presidential elections tomorrow in an atmosphere of political threats and violence, eerily resembling the atmosphere being created by neo-fascist demagogue Donald "Rump" Trump in the U.S. The Brazilian version of Rump is far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who himself survived an assassination attempt in September in the volatile politics of Brazil. Bolsonaro's rhetoric toward the left-leaning candidate and party facing him has been incendiary and extreme. He also avoids taking responsibility for the violence engaged in by his supporters:
"He says he does not condone violence carried out by his supporters, but analysts say his daily rants on social media platforms are taking a toll.He's also taken a page from Rump's playbook in attacking Brazil's press, also using the term "fake news" to discredit negative stories about him, and to encourage attacks on them
'Bolsonaro, because of his rhetoric supporting violence and the aggressive manner he has campaigned, has opened the Pandora’s box on political violence in an already extremely violent country,' said Rafael Alcadipani, a public security expert at the Getulio Vargas Foundation university in Sao Paulo.
'If people thought Brazil had extremely high levels of street violence in normal times, imagine what it will be like under a president who aggressively pushes violence among police and against political opponents?'” (our emphasis)
"Brazilian investigative journalism group Abraji said since January 64 reporters who cover the campaign have been physically attacked and another 82 targeted in online hate campaigns.Bolsonaro is ahead of his opponent by double digits going in to tomorrow's elections. If you thought the right-wing virus of anti-democratic violence was confined to the U.S. and parts of Europe, think again.
By comparison, 40 U.S.-based journalists covering all topics were physically attacked during that period, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker database run by over two dozen press freedom groups."
