Brazil elects farright official

SAO PAULO» Jair Bolsonaro, a brash farright congressman who has waxed nostalgic for Brazil’s old military dictatorship, won the presidency of Latin America’s largest nation Sunday as voters looked past warnings that the former army captain would erode democracy and em braced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil.

Bolsonaro, who cast himself as a political outsider despite a 27year career in Congress, became the latest world leader to rise to power by mixing tough, often violent talk with hardright positions. His victory reflected widespread anger at the political class after years of corruption, an economy that has struggled to recover after a punishing recession and a surge in violence.

“I feel in my heart that things will change,” said Sandra Coccato, a 68yearold small business owner, after she voted for Bolsonaro in Sao Paulo. “Lots of bad people are leaving, and lots of new, good people are entering. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

In Rio de Janeiro, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters gathered on iconic Copacabana Beach, where fireworks went off. In Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, cars horns could be heard honking and crowds celebrated as the results came in. There were reports of clashes between his backers and opponents in Sao Paulo.

Speaking to supporters from his home in Rio, Bolsonaro recounted how he was stabbed while campaigning last month and almost died.

“I was never alone. I always felt the presence of God and the force of the Brazilian people,” he said.

Addressing supporters in Sao Paulo, his rival, Fernando Haddad of the Workers’ Party, did not concede or even mention Bolsonaro by name.

Brazil’s top electoral court said Bolsonaro won with just more 55 percent of the vote, compared with just less than 45 percent for Haddad.

Bolsonaro went into Sunday the clear frontrunner after getting 46 percent of the vote to Haddad’s 29 percent in the first round of voting on Oct. 7, when 13 contenders were on the ballot. Opinion polls in recent weeks had Bolsonaro leading by as much as 18 percentage points.