Page 12 - aruba-today-20180824

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 24 august 2018

Brazilian presidential candidate considers skipping debates

By MAURICIO SAVARESE tion conviction. He denies
Associated Press any wrongdoing and was
SAO PAULO (AP) — A lead- not allowed to participate
ing right-wing presidential in the debates despite
candidate in Brazil ap- leading the polls.
peared to backtrack Thurs- Bolsonaro is running second
day on his initial decision at 19 percent, which is far
to skip all seven remaining ahead of former Sao Paulo
debates before the Oct. Mayor Fernando Haddad,
7 election, saying that he who is da Silva's likely re-
may participate in three. placement and choice for
Earlier, an attorney for Con- vice president.
gressman Jair Bolsonaro The same Datafolha poll
said that the candidate said 39 percent of voters
would not attend the re- would never choose Bolso-
maining debates because naro. It also showed that 43
they did not add to the percent of women wouldn't
race. support him, a major con-
After a campaign event in cern for the congressman
the countryside of Sao Pau- in a country where females
lo state, the congressman comprise 52 percent of the
later said he could not "lose electorate.
contact with the people." National Social Liberal Party presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro leaves the cemetery after at- During both debates, Bol-
"I can't be in a studio, there tending burial of soldier Fabiano de Oliveira dos Santos in Japeri, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. sonaro argued that free
are 40 days to the elec- Associated Press market policies, not the
tion," Bolsonaro told jour- government, should regu-
nalists. He said he wouldn't Brazilians who wouldn't moderate politicians and Wednesday shows jailed late how much women are
attend all the debates, but vote for Bolsonaro under voters who he needs to former President Luiz Inacio paid. The Datafolha poll,
his "idea" was to make an any circumstances follow- win over. The congressman Lula da Silva with support which has margin of error
appearance at some. ing two recent TV debates. was only mildly targeted on among 39 percent of those of 2 percentage points,
The public vacillation Bolsonaro's performances both occasions by seven surveyed, but he is likely to was based on interviews
comes after a poll showed were loved by hardcore opponents. be barred from seeking of- with 8,433 people between
a spike in the number of fans, but were criticized by A Datafolha poll published fice because of a corrup- Aug. 20 and 21.q

Argentine authorities carry out raids at Fernandez's homes

ALMUDENA CALATRAVA tial residence were alleg-
Associated Press edly among the places the
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina money was sent.
(AP) — Argentine authori- Under a plea bargain
ties carried out raids at agreement, several busi-
homes owned by former nessmen have admitted to
President Cristina Fernan- paying bribes, and so far,
dez on Thursday as part of at least 16 people have
a case investigating wide- been arrested in the case.
spread corruption. They include leaders of
Fernandez, who is now a construction companies
senator, has been accused and former officials who
of orchestrating a bribe served in Fernandez's 2007-
scheme in the granting of 2015 administration.
public works contracts that Fernandez's senatorial seat
has ensnared many of Ar- gives her immunity from
gentina's former officials prosecution. She denies
and business elite. any wrongdoing and says
She was among the 67 sen- that she is being politically
ators who approved the persecuted by a judge in-
raids on three of her own fluenced by President Mau-
properties late Wednesday Police enter the home of Senator and Former President Cristina Fernandez, in Buenos Aires, ricio Macri to distract Ar-
following a request by a Argentina, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. gentines from the country's
federal judge. Associated Press economic turmoil.
But it was unclear what in- Argentina has one of the
vestigators hoped to find as ered outside while at least Santa Cruz province. tigation found that some- world's highest inflation
they searched in an apart- a dozen police officers and The alleged scheme is one who helped deliver rates and Macri's admin-
ment located in the Argen- other authorities wearing based on an investiga- bags of cash to former of- istration has been forced
tine capital with the assis- white jumpsuits and blue la- tion by a local newspaper ficials in exchange for pub- to seek out a financing
tance of a K-9 unit. tex gloves looked through into corruption during the lic contracts from 2005 to deal with the International
A crowd of journalists, curi- the residence. Authorities administrations of Fernan- 2015 kept detailed note- Monetary Fund following
ous onlookers and support- later arrived at one of Fer- dez and her late husband, books. Fernandez's private a sharp devaluation of its
ers of the ex-president gath- nandez's homes in southern Nestor Kirchner. The inves- address and the presiden- peso currency.q