Bolsonaro: 'The change could be worse; look at Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela'

In his first statement after the election results, which lasted just over 40 minutes, the president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro He told reporters that he sees a sense of change in the country, but that “changes can come for the worse.”

(In context: Elections in Brazil: Lula da Silva and Jair Bolsonaro will go to the second round)

“The change could be for the worse, look at Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela,” assured the current president of Brazil, a list that was later added by Chile and Nicaragua. “All the countries that migrated to the left fared worse”he detailed, “and I am concerned about the freedom of the people.”

(Keep reading: Lula da Silva, the ‘phoenix’ who aspires to return to the presidency of Brazil)

And he delved into the Argentine case: “It has 40% of the population that is on the poverty line […] During the pandemic, he followed a ‘stay at home’ policy, you know what I think about that, and it was worse.

The president, who was serious and answered the questions of the journalists with some crosses, made calculations of the support he needs to get the disadvantage to Lula, who had a 5-point difference.

(Of interest: Jair Bolsonaro: the president who will play his re-election against Lula da Silva)

“We have a second part ahead”, said. “There is the possibility of speaking with (Romeu) Zema (re-elected governor in MG). Rio belongs to our party (Cláudio Castro). The PL made a bench of 100 and a few deputies, we made senators, all this personnel will be invited to speak with us”.

Regarding the second round, he said that now it will be better “for the Brazilian population, especially for the most affected class, which is a consequence of the policy of staying at home, then we see the economy, of a war abroad, of a crisis too. ”.

(Also: Brazil votes under a climate of polarization and the specter of violence)

Lula and Bolsonaro, the two candidates for the second round.

In addition, he assured that “the polls are demoralized” and “we overcame the lie” of the polls, since they anticipated a first round with Lula da Silva with 50% of the votes, which would have allowed him to consecrate himself president today. The president blamed the polls, especially Datafolha, for “influencing” the decision of the “undecided.”

(See also: Exchange of prisoners between the US and Venezuela: what does this rapprochement mean?)

He also said that “doors are open for conversation” with the candidates who did not go to the second round, such as Simone Tebet (MDB) and Ciro Gomes (PDT).

THE NATION (ARGENTINA) / GDA