‘No to the daddy, no to the son’: Thousands march in Rio in opposition to Bolsonaro | Elections Information

Thousands of individuals have taken to the streets of Rio de Janeiro in a student-led protest in opposition to presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro and the rising affect of Brazil’s far proper.

The march occurred on Wednesday, simply days after far-right Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, earned essentially the most votes within the first round of the nation’s presidential race.

Bolsonaro gained 47 p.c, forward of his closest rival, incumbent left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who gained 45 p.c help.

Since neither candidate surpassed the 50 p.c threshold, they may face one another in a run-off on October 25.

The outcomes have triggered fears that Brazil may grow to be the newest Latin American nation to see its presidency change from left to proper.

Protesters marched by downtown Rio carrying indicators studying “Never once more Bolsonaro” and “No to the daddy, no to the son”. Others held banners studying “Dictatorship by no means once more” and “Get out Bolsonaro”.

“I’m right here as a result of I consider in democracy. Because I’m scared,” stated Alice Carneiro, 25, an administrator in maritime delivery who participated within the protests. She defined that, underneath a far-right authorities, she feared a backlash in opposition to her spouse, who’s transgender.

Jair Bolsonaro, the previous president, led the nation from 2019 to 2023. But his single-term tenure was marked by a collection of controversies associated to his far-right insurance policies.

He voiced help for Brazil’s previous army dictatorship, which was answerable for the disappearance and homicide of a whole bunch of perceived dissidents. He additionally unfold unfounded claims concerning the accuracy of Brazil’s election system, resulting in a court docket ruling that barred him from holding workplace for eight years.

Currently, the previous president is serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted of plotting to overturn his 2022 election defeat. After Lula’s inauguration in 2023, Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed authorities buildings within the capital, reportedly hoping to set off a army rebellion.

Critics have framed Jair Bolsonaro’s actions as a risk to Brazil’s democracy.

But Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has obtained his father’s endorsement, and he has backed amnesty for his father, a prospect that has raised considerations amongst protesters.

“I discover this rise of the far proper and the rise of Bolsonarism in Brazil very, very unhappy,” stated Emmanuel Araujo, 19, who’s making ready for college entrance exams.

“Lula won’t be my most well-liked candidate,” Araujo added, “however amid this barbarism, we’ve to decide on between somebody we are able to preserve criticising and somebody who would possibly take away our proper to talk.”