Bolsonaro used the event as a platform to summon his followers to “take to the streets for the last time” on September 7, the date on which there were demonstrations marked by anti-democratic slogans last year.
The officialization of Bolsonaro as a candidate for the elections on October 2 occurred at the Liberal Party (PL) convention in Rio, the political cradle of the president. According to the organizers, 12,000 people followed the speech, although there were gaps in the audience.
“I summon all of you so that on September 7 we go to the streets for the last time,” he said in a fiery tone to attack the Federal Supreme Court (STF) as he usually does. “Those few deaf people in black capes have to understand what the voice of the people is,” he said about the STF.
“Supreme is the people!” His followers responded.
The far-right spoke for more than an hour at the Maracanazinho gymnasium, where there was a festive atmosphere, with his followers mostly wearing the colors of the Brazilian flag, green and yellow.
Bolsonaro said that he prays to God “that Brazil never experiences the pain of communism,” in a reference to former leftist president Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, whom, without naming him, he accused of wanting to curtail freedoms if he returns to power in the October elections in which is clear favourite.
The president appealed directly to young Brazilians, most of whom, according to polls, prefer Lula, leader of the Workers’ Party (PT).
“We have to attract the young leftist to our side, show him the truth (…) where his candidate supported others for South America, look at the misery in which those countries are, look at Venezuela (…) look where he is going our Argentina, with 50% close to the poverty line”, assured the president.
“Lula, thief, your place is in prison!” the crowd bellowed.
Before the launch, a close adviser to Bolsonaro had told AFP that the campaign committee recommended that he focus on a proactive agenda, centered on the economy and the government’s efforts to lower fuel prices and strengthen social assistance, and abandon controversies such as the attacks on electronic ballot boxes.
However, in addition to attacking the highest court, Bolsonaro indirectly cited the accusations of vulnerability of electronic ballot boxes by ensuring that his followers “do not admit fraud.”
Among the public, they wore slogans such as “God, Country and Family” and a flag of former US President Donald Trump was also seen.
Bolsonaro appeared on stage with the first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro, and his vice-presidential candidate, General Walter Souza Braga Netto.
He promised that if he is re-elected, he will maintain Brazil Aid, the main social assistance program, in 2023 at 600 reais (about 110 dollars), a value recently increased until December.
Michelle preceded the president with a short speech in which she said she prayed for her husband and assured that Bolsonaro was the president “who sanctioned the most laws for the protection of women.”
The president’s wife was pointed out by the campaign as a key piece to try to reduce the rejection in the female electorate and build loyalty to the evangelical vote.
The president appeared on stage wearing a bulletproof vest under his shirt. The Institutional Security Cabinet ordered a strong operation, with magazines and metal detectors, after episodes of political violence that have been shaking the campaign in Brazil.
A month before the elections he won in 2018, Bolsonaro was stabbed in the stomach during a rally.
The entrance Bolsonaro launched himself for re-election with attacks on Lula and the Supreme Court was first published in diary TODAY.
