Flavio Bolsonaro launches Brazil presidential bid with crime pledge
Key Takeaways
- Flavio Bolsonaro launched his presidential campaign in Rio de Janeiro.
- He focused his message on security, organised crime and government spending.
- His campaign launch coincided with Lula's first event in Sao Paulo.
The senator opened his campaign in Rio with promises to tackle organised crime, cut public spending and defend his father’s political legacy.
Brazilian senator and presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro launched his campaign for the 2027–2031 term on Sunday at an event on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.
The event was held near Posto 5, one of the main political strongholds of his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, who served from 2019 to 2022.
Flavio Bolsonaro focused his campaign message on public security, fighting drug trafficking and taking a tough stance against organised crime.
He also criticised President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva over his foreign policy, arguing that the government was focusing on diplomatic tensions instead of Brazil's domestic problems.
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"(Lula) fights against countries that are 10,000 kilometres away from us. But the current government does not fight traffickers, does not fight murderers, does not fight robbers. I am going to fight for you!" the legislator said.
At the event, supporter Leticia Soares backed Bolsonaro's candidacy and said she expected an economic recovery. She also highlighted the possibility of closer political ties with Argentine President Javier Milei.
"The economy is going to go from zero to 100 per cent. And with Milei, being together, we can only grow. The economy is growing all over the world; grow together," the activist said.
Another supporter, Mauricio Vargas, said he believed a Flavio Bolsonaro government aligned with US President Donald Trump could tackle Brazil's main criminal groups.
"The right-wing government of Flavio Bolsonaro, aligned with President Trump of the United States, will be very good for the nation to put an end to the PCC (First Command of the Capital) and the Comando Vermelho," Vargas said.
Bolsonaro also defended the legacy of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest and barred from political office for his attempted involvement in a coup in 2022.
He promised to confront the political system, reduce public spending and cut government posts.
Flavio Bolsonaro's campaign launch coincided with the official start of Lula's campaign, as the president held his first event in São Paulo.
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This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
