TROPICAL TRUMP
Far-right, gay-hater likened to US leader is new president of Brazil
A Far-right politician dubbed “Trump of the Tropics” has been voted in as Brazil’s new president.
Jair Bolsonaro’s rise to power has been marked by a divisive campaign and a string of verbal attacks on women, gay and black people.
The 63-year-old’s policies include loosening gun laws, giving police power to use more force and stripping back state intervention in the economy. There are also fears he will follow Donald Trump in pulling out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
The US pres- Bolsonaro has won ident phoned Bolsonaro to congratulate him on his victory.
But defeated rival Fernando Haddad of the left-wing Workers’ Party warned: “Bolsonaro is putting at risk everything built over the last 30 years.” US economist Mark Weisbrot added: “This is a dark day for Brazil. Brazilian democracy is now in complete crisis.” Bolsonaro sweeps into power on the back of derogatory statements, which include telling federal deputy Maria do Rosario she was “too ugly to rape”. In 2011, he said he would “rather his son die in a car accident than be gay”.
And when speaking of a visit to a settlement in El Dourado Paulista founded by people of African origin, Bolsonaro declared: “The lightest descendant there weighed 100kg. They don’t do anything. They don’t even serve to reproduce.”
The new leader, who takes over on January 1, won 55.2% of the vote against 44.8% for Haddad.
His vow to fight crime and corruption won him mass support.
The left has triumphed in four out of the past five Brazilian elections.