Bolsonaro says will retire if he loses October elections

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Sep 2022 23:20

The 67-year-old said that there is "nothing left to do here on Earth" if his journey in politics ends on December 31.

Bolsonaro says will retire if he loses at October elections

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says he will retire from politics if he fails to be reelected in the upcoming October elections, as polls show him lagging.

"If it's God's will, I'll continue (as president). If not, I'll pass the (presidential) sash and retire," Bolsonaro said Monday night during an interview on a podcast for young Evangelical Christians.

The 67-year-old added: "At my age, I have nothing left to do here on Earth if my journey in politics ends on December 31," the last day of his term.

It was not a change in tone for the far-right incumbent, who has previously said there can only be three outcomes for his reelection bid: "prison, death or victory."

Known for riling up his base with his hardline rhetoric and disregard for political correctness, Bolsonaro has struck a more moderate rhetoric recently as he seeks to cut leftist ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's lead in the polls ahead of the October 2 vote.

Bolsonaro also gave a rare apology in the interview over some of his more controversial statements, including saying in 2020 that he could do nothing about Brazil's soaring Covid-19 death toll because he was "not a grave-digger."

Responding to a question from Evangelical rapper Felipe Vilela, who said he was "saddened" by that statement -- which came a day after his father-in-law died -- Bolsonaro said he had been a "dimwit."

"I regret it," he said in the marathon four-hour interview.

"I'm human, I regret what I said, I wouldn't say it again. You can see my behavior has changed from a year ago."

He said he also regretted telling critics urging him to purchase Covid-19 vaccines to "go get them at your mom's house."

However, he defended his statement that the vaccine could "turn you into an alligator," calling it a "figure of speech."

Bolsonaro also stoked new controversy by commenting on Vilela's skin color.

"Do you have African heritage? You're a little dark, aren't you?" he said.

"Oh wait, it's a crime to say that. Haven't you heard people say I'm racist?"

Vilela later said in a post on Instagram he had not taken offense at the statement, calling it a "joke" by Bolsonaro, "someone who comes from another era, trying to bridge the gap between us."

Bolsonaro in the interview also urged young people to vote carefully next month, saying the election would "mark your future" and warning against the recent wave of left-wing victories in Latin America.

Recent updates reveal that a poll published on August 15 indicates presidential candidate da Silva with 44% of voter support as opposed to 32% for Bolsonaro in the first round of the election scheduled due to take place on October 2.

In the second round due to take place on October 30, in case no candidate wins 50% plus one of the valid votes, Lula Da Silva would get elected by 51% of the votes and 35% for Bolsonaro, a 16-point gap, according to the poll.

Bolsonaro, a former military captain and extreme right-wing persona, has increased funding on welfare for those living in poverty in Brazil, which may explain his increase in numbers from his approval rating now at 29%, compared to just 19% in December, in addition to pressing state-controlled oil company Petrobras to lower the price of fuel, a big factor in boosting inflation.

His past, however, counteracts that, as he is known to have a history of political violence and populist methods of mobilizing the public into aggressive tendencies, through the use of social media and taking to the streets by taking advantage of anti-migration sentiments and embodying the image of the neo-caudillo (a political strongman) that saves the country from the "bad guys", aka the opposing party, and being "from the people".

This presidential race has been Brazil's most polarized in decades, narrowing in recent weeks, with Lula Da Silva, former Brazilian president, vowing to rebuild Brazil from Bolsonaro's damages and promising to recognize land claims of indigenous nations and prohibit the illegal mining on their lands. Bolsonaro has been notorious for endorsing investments mainly through the deforestation of Brazil's rainforests and indigenous lands.