Trump of the tropics: the 'dangerous' candidate leading Brazil's presidential race
Jair Bolsonaro has openly cheered dictatorship and publicly insulted women. Now hes deploying Trump-like tactics in his race for the presidency
Last modified on Thu 19 Apr 2018 11.01 EDT
Jair Bolsonaros disciples had packed the arrivals hall of this far-flung Amazonian airport, united by their contempt for the left and an unbreakable determination to score a selfie with the man they call the Legend.
Hes Brazils hope! A light at the end of the tunnel! A new horizon! gushed Fernando Vieira, one of hundreds of fans there to greet a far-right firebrand who cheerleads for dictatorship but could soon become leader of the worlds fourth-largest democracy.
When flight 2020 delivered the presidential hopeful to his sun-scorched destination in the northern state of Roraima, pandemonium broke out. Legend! Legend! Legend! Legend! the crowd chanted, hoisting their idol into the air and outside through a crush of police officers and partisans.
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Since the Pinochet-praising former paratrooper entered politics three decades ago, he has repeatedly called for a return to the kind of military rule Brazil endured until 1985. I am in favour of a dictatorship, he boasted during the first of seven terms as a congressman.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/19/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-presidential-candidate-trump-parallels