The Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonarosaid that he will withdraw from politics if he loses the October elections, in whose race he is second behind the former president Lula da Silva according the surveys.
“If it is God’s will, I continue (in the presidency). If not, I pass the band and I will pick myself up. Because, at my age (67), I have nothing else to do here on Earth if my passage through politics, on December 31 of this year,” he said Monday night, during an interview on podcasts aimed at young evangelicals.
(Also read: Jair Bolsonaro will travel to London to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II)
The comments by Bolsonaro, who declared a year ago that “only God” could remove him from power, are part of a more moderate rhetoric by the far-right president, in an apparent attempt to attract center voters ahead of the polarized elections of the 2 October.
In the latest survey by the Datafolha Institute, published on Friday, the president is 11 points behind the former president of the left (34% vs. 45%)a gap that has been gradually narrowing from 21 points in May.
If it is the will of God, I continue (in the presidency). If not, I pass the band and I’ll pick myself up
The head of state addressed the young people directly and said that what they decide in the elections could “mark their future”, before criticizing leftist governments in other South American countries.
“Make comparisons with other countries: what do the leaders of those states where these (leftist) policies don’t work have in common? And ask yourself if that’s what they want for Brazil,” he said.
“I am not the savior of the country, it is not I who will save Brazil”Bolsonaro added in the interview, which lasted more than four hours.
The mea culpa for your comments
Bolsonaro also said he regretted some of his harsh statements about the COVID-19 pandemic, in a rare apology at the height of the campaign, three weeks before the presidential election.
The head of state admitted having “lost his mind” when he launched “I am not a gravedigger”, when questioned in 2020 about the number of deaths from covid.
“I am a human being, I am sorry for what I said, I would not say it again,” insisted the right-wing president, in response to a question from Felipe Vilela, an evangelical rapper who said he was “sad” by those sayings of the president, to the day following the death of his father-in-law.
President Bolsonaro also said that He regrets having sent those who asked for vaccines against covid-19 to “his mother’s house” to buyin 2021.
Brazil was the second worst hit country in the world by the pandemic in nominal figures, with more than 680,000 dead.
(You can read: Brazil: Bolsonarist kills Lula follower after political discussion)
“I am the head of state. I know. I am sorry. I would not say it again (…). You can see that since a year ago my behavior has changed. I am learning in this position,” he said.
Nevertheless, Bolsonaro did not retract his comments on vaccines that “they can transform (people) into alligators”, arguing that it was “a figure of speech”.
On the other hand, he admitted being “wrong” to say in 2017, before assuming the presidency, that he had fathered a girl after four boys “in a moment of weakness.”
Regularly branded sexist or racist, Bolsonaro also made an ironic comment about the color of Felipe Vilela’s skin.
(Keep reading: Bolsonaro will go to the UN General Assembly as an electoral campaign plan)
“Are you of African descent? You’re a bit dark, aren’t you? Oh no, it’s a crime to say that. Haven’t you heard that I’m racist?”
AFP
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