Brazil’s Bolsonaro says Lula first-round victory is ‘impossible’
Sao Paulo, Sep 25 (EFE).- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is standing for re-election in the Oct. 2 elections, said Sunday that a victory for former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the first round is “impossible,” despite several polls pointing to the contrary.
“Will he win in the first round? I see it as difficult, not difficult, impossible, impossible and full stop,” said the far-right leader, who polls place at a disadvantage of between 10 points and 15 points a week before the elections compared to Lula.
Some electoral polls predict Lula could be elected president on the same day, without the need for a second round, by projecting he will manage to win 50 percent of votes.
However, Bolsonaro said he “does not believe much” in the polls and said he trusts that he will be the candidate to win in the first round because, in his opinion, Lula “does not take people out on the streets.”
The retired army captain, who in recent months has raised suspicions about the legitimacy of the electronic voting system, said the results “must be respected by anyone,” as long as the elections are “clean and transparent.”
He criticized a ruling by the Superior Electoral Tribunal prohibiting him from broadcasting live to campaign from official premises, such as the Alvorada Palace, the official residence of the Presidency; or the Planalto Palace, seat of the government.
“The Alvorada Palace is my residence, isn’t it?” he said.
Bolsonaro didn’t say where he was during Sunday’s broadcast, in which he promoted the candidacies of allies from various regions of the country.
An adviser to the president’s campaign did not respond when questioned by journalists in a Telegram group about the location of the broadcast.
Bolsonaro again mentioned the presidents of Colombia, Gustavo Petro; and Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, whom he called “dictators”, and from Chile, Gabriel Boric, to charge against the candidate of the Workers’ Party.
“Lula continues to be a criminal, a thief (…) a friend of dictatorships, communists and thieves, of people who have no commitment to religion,” he said. EFE
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