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Louis Staples
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Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro has won Brazil's presidential election.
Bolsonaro won 55 per cent of the votes cast against 45 per cent for his left-wing opponent Fernando Haddad. Bolsonaro campaigned on an anti-corruption platform and a promise to eradicate crime.
His victory constitutes a swing to the political right. Following the impeachment of president Dilma Rousseff in 2016, the country has been led by conservative Michel Temer, who has been unpopular.
Bolsonaro is a deeply divisive figure whose remarks on a range of issues, such as an apparent support for torture and hostility towards refugees, LGBT+ people and women, earned him the nickname of "Trump of the Tropics".
He has even said he is "in favour of dictatorship" and indicated that he supports developing on protected indigenous lands – which scientists claim would be a disaster for climate change. He also wants to relax gun laws so “every honest citizen” can own a gun.
Following his victory, the world has reacted strongly to the news. Trump wasted no time in getting on the phone, which didn't go down well with Bolsonaro's critics.
The man who said “I wouldn’t rape you because you don’t deserve it” to a congresswoman, who said “I would prefer th… https://t.co/d0PmWp89HE— Samantha Power (@Samantha Power) 1540787847
Given Bolsonaro's insistence that "no father is proud of having a gay son" and that he "couldn't love" a gay son, people have been sending love to Brazil's LGBT+ community.
love to the LGBTQ+ community in Brazil ❤️✨— olly alexander (@olly alexander) 1540784697
Thinking of Brazil’s LGBTQ communities, especially queer youth who are also of colour.— 🎄 (@🎄) 1540805224
Brazil's leftists, LGBTQ people, indigenous people, working-class and poor people. Here are some of those most at r… https://t.co/FwB2LZ2ZVP— Owen Jones 🌹 (@Owen Jones 🌹) 1540765948
Others highlighted that Bolsonaro's support came mostly from white communities.
Voters of Bolsonaro and Haddad by skin color based on last opinion poll before the election (in million votes) https://t.co/X9w6h0JykV— alexandre afonso (@alexandre afonso) 1540766187
British politicians David Lammy MP had strong words of condemnation.
The election of a fascist, pro-torture, anti-LGBT, anti-human rights, authoritarian, climate change denier in Bra… https://t.co/apIgSbx6ir— David Lammy (@David Lammy) 1540797505
Others expressed dismay at the president-elect's climate policies.
Goodbte, rain forests. Goodbye, peace. Brazil, I'm so sad for you. https://t.co/t2ulqlpUpo— Milja Kaunisto (@Milja Kaunisto) 1540805609
Amnesty International has said that his campaign pledge makes Bolsonaro a "huge risk" to Brazil's LGBT+ communities, indigenous population, women, ethnic minorities and activists.
H/T: BBC
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