Page 12 - AT

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 29 october 2018

Brazilians weigh change versus risk to democracy in election

By SARAH DiLORENZO scores of politicians and
PETER PRENGAMAN executives have been
MAURICIO SAVARESE jailed in the Carwash cor-
Associated Press ruption investigation that
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil- uncovered a multi-billion-
ians on Sunday were weigh- dollar scheme to trade
ing their hunger for radical public contracts and of-
change against fears that ficial favors for bribes and
the presidential front-run- kickbacks. That instability
ner could threaten democ- unleashed extreme anger
racy as they cast ballots in with the political class but
the culmination of a bitter also revealed deep divi-
campaign that split many sions in Brazilian society,
families and was frequently and this campaign was the
marred by violence. most polarized in decades.
Far-right congressman Jair There were numerous re-
Bolsonaro has won over ports of politically moti-
many voters by painting vated violence, especially
a picture of a Brazil at war directed at gay people,
— with criminals, corrupt whom Bolsonaro has dis-
politicians and leftist ideas paraged. Bolsonaro himself
that he says could turn the was stabbed and almost
country into Venezuela — Jair Bolsonaro, presidential candidate with the Social Liberal Party, waves after voting in the died at a campaign event
and promises to change presidential runoff election in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. in early September.
the tide with force and Associated Press “I’m not crazy about Bol-
clean governance. Haddad for similar reasons. momentum with his prom- 1964-1985 military dicta- sonaro. But he is our way
Recent polls showed Bolso- One of the most important ises of a return to the boom torship and said he would to keep the Workers’ Party
naro with an 8 to 10 point endorsements, particularly times by investing in health name military men to his out of office,” said Rafaela
lead over his rival, leftist for young people, came and education and reduc- Cabinet. Rosa, a 32-year-old teach-
candidate Fernando Had- from Youtuber Felipe Neto, ing poverty. More than a dozen U.S. er, after voting Sunday in
dad of the Workers’ Party. whose channel has nearly “If you have three crises Democratic congressmen Sao Paulo. “We have had
Several key endorsements 27 million followers. happening at the same have written a letter urg- enough corruption and
late Saturday gave Had- Neto said he was troubled time — economic, political ing Secretary of State Mike now we need to clean up.”
dad’s camp hope that by Bolsonaro’s comments a and moral, ethical in a way Pompeo to make clear Many observers predicted
they could still pull out a week ago that “red” leftists — I think you create a sce- that American aid to and that a newcomer would
victory. would be run out of Brazil. nario which is perfect for cooperation with Brazil “is emerge to harness that
“I am confident we can “In 16 years of the (Work- outsiders and authoritarian, contingent on the uphold- anti-establishment anger.
win,” said Haddad after ers’ Party), I have been fringe candidates,” said Ol- ing of basic human rights Instead, support coalesced
voting. “There are many robbed, but never threat- iver Stuenkel, an associate and democratic values by around Bolsonaro, who
democratic voices that ened,” Neto said by Twitter. professor of international its leaders.” both is and isn’t an outsid-
could have been silent and Bolsonaro, a former army relations at the Fundacao The past few years in Brazil er: He has served for nearly
have spoken in our favor.” captain with a lackluster Getulio Vargas university in have been exceptionally three decades in Congress,
On Saturday, a popular record in Congress over 27 Sao Paulo. “It’s not unlikely turbulent. In 2016, then- but he has often been at
former supreme court jus- years, rose in prominence that we’ll see an erosion of President Dilma Rousseff the margins of that institu-
tice, Joaquim Barbosa, amid disgust with Brazil’s Brazil’s democracy. We’re of the Workers’ Party was tion and he painted him-
tweeted support for Had- political system after a already seeing it now.” impeached and removed self as just the strong man
dad, saying Bolsonaro’s massive corruption scandal Many in Brazil and beyond from office on charges that Brazil needed to dismantle
candidacy scared him. and a prolonged recession. have expressed concerns many on the left felt were a failing system. Bolster-
Likewise, former Attorney In particular, many Brazil- about a rollback of civil politically motivated. The ing his rebel image is his
General Rodrigo Janot, ians are furious with the rights and a weakening of economy suffered a two- reputation for offensive
one of the biggest crusad- Workers’ Party for its role in institutions in what remains years-long recession and is statements and sometimes
ers against corruption in the graft scheme, known a young democracy, espe- only beginning to emerge, extreme views, including
Haddad’s Workers’ Party as “Carwash” and Had- cially since Bolsonaro has with growth stagnant and insulting women, gays and
in recent years, endorsed dad has struggled to build waxed nostalgic for Brazil’s unemployment high. And blacks.q