Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Will Brazil return to dictatorship?

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MX8G5ECdvA]

Jair Bolsonaro (since this video was made) won 46% of the first round vote in the Brazilian election and will almost certainly be elected President of the country. He has praised the previous Brazilian dictatorship, believes in paramilitary policing, is against all minorities and has a Chicago school economist as his chief advisor. The best person to compare him to is probably Chile's General Pinochet.

A toxic combination has created this situation. An elite fighting back against the fear of lost privilege, people disillusioned with mainstream institutions and bad economic times. Also, the soft coup against Dilma Rousseff destabilised things. Desperate people look to a strong man for salvation.

A lot of the press compares Bolsonaro to Trump, like this article:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/08/brazil-us-presidential-elections-bolsonaro

It's a bit much TBF. There are clear thematic links but Bolsonaro is worse than Trump. Also, Brazil is a new democracy and lacks the strong institutions to resist someone wanting to be a dictator. Worrying times.
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
SW-User
Wouldn't be surprised if it did turn into a dictatorship, but also wouldn't be surprised if it didn't. We'll see what happens..
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@SW-User Bolsonoro will win and launch a series of heavy neo-liberal reforms and use militarised police to break unions. Class warfare at its most brutal. That is the historic role of fascism IMO. The PT can't win this election but now its a new battle.
SW-User
@Burnley123 he wont be able to fix anything. The left will come out swinging harder in the next recession
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@SW-User I hope so. He will get tacit support from the west because he's a free market guy. I just think there will be years of strife whatever happens.