Jair Bolsonaro
| Jair Bolsonaro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Federal Congressman for Rio de Janeiro | |
|
Assumed office February 1, 1991 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
21 March 1955 Campinas, Brazil |
| Political party | PDC, PPR, PPB, PTB, PFL, PP Currently: PSC |
| Website | bolsonaro.com.br |
Jair Messias Bolsonaro (born March 21, 1955 in Campinas) is a Brazilian congressman and pre-candidate for 2018 Brazilian presidential elections.[1] He has been elected into the Chamber of Deputies by the Christian Social Party, and was the congressman who gained the most votes in the general elections of the state of Rio de Janeiro in 2014.[2][3] A controversial figure in Brazil, he has been known for advocating in favor of extreme right-wing political views.[4]
Political career
Bolsonaro was formerly an army parachutist.[4] In 1988, Bolsonaro has entered a public political career by being elect as city councilor in the capital city of Rio de Janeiro by the Christian Democratic Party. In the elections of 1990, he has been elected federal congressman of the same party. He has had other four consecutive terms. He has been affiliated with several other Brazilian political parties.
Along with his political career, Bolsonaro has aligned himself to nationalist, conservative, anti-left, anti-communist political views and stances. Bolsonaro openly defends the past militarist regime that had been installed in Brazil in 1964 and its subsequent dictatorship.
In 2014, he has been the congressman who has gained the most votes in Rio de Janeiro, accounting for 464 thousand votes.
Political views and controversies
Bolsonaro has expressed many right-wing political views during his long political career. He strongly advocates against the legalization of same sex-unions and of same-sex marriage, whilst expressing controversial statements considered by some to be homophobic or misogynistic in nature. He advocates against affirmative action or quotas for blacks, as well as against the decriminalization of drugs. Other controversial political stances expressed by Bolsonaro have been of the defense of the death penalty and of radical interventionism in Brazil by the military, along with an implantation of a Brazilian military government. He said in 1993, only eight years after the return of democracy, that military rule would lead to a more sustainable and prosperous Brazil.[4] He also praised Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori as a role model for his use of military intervention against the judiciary and legislature.[4]
A series of stances and remarks expressed by Bolsonaro directed towards female politician Maria do Rosário, have led to some form of controversy. In one episode, during an interview in which Bolsonaro was expressing his opinion that minors who commit heinous crimes like murder and rape should be treated as adults, Maria do Rosário referred to Bolsonaro as a "rapist",[5] to which, he had stated that the latter was not "worthy of being raped", resulting in repercussion across some Brazilian political circles and parties.[6] The remarks, considered by some to have hostile and misogynistic stances in nature, have been highly criticized by Human Rights Organizations, resulting in the Representative of the United Nations for South America High Commissioner for Human Rights Amerigo Incalcaterra to announce the following:
" The statements made by Rep. Bolsonaro are not only offensive for Rep. Maria do Rosário. They are also an affront to the dignity of all women and all victims of severe abuses, such as sexual violence and rape, which is considered in Brazil a heinous crime. Such remarks are unacceptable in a democracy [such] as Brazil, especially when expressed by public officials and representatives elected by popular vote. Public representatives must be very responsible with their words, because they have a significant impact in society. "[7]
During his vote in favor of president Dilma Rousseff's impeachment, Bolsonaro made homage to colonel Brilhante Ustra, an agent of Brazil's military dictatorship who tortured Dilma Rousseff. Ustra headed the DOI-CODI torture unit during the dictatorship. Left-wing deputy Jean Wyllys spat at him for the statement.[8]
Bolsonaro has in multiple occasions stated that he has been a victim of "heterophobia" after being allegedly "humiliated" during a flight conducted by TAM Airlines; in this event, openly gay Wyllys had refused to sit beside him upon learning of his presence. Bolsonaro has posted a video of the incident declaring he has been a victim of heterophobia. Thereafter he has declared: “Surpreendentemente, em clara demonstração de intolerância, preconceito, discriminação e heterofobia o Deputado Jean Wyllys levantou-se e acomodou-se em outro assento” (Astonishingly, in a clear demonstration of intolerance, prejudice, discrimination and heterophobia, the Congressman Jean Wyllys has stood up and sat in a different seat [away from me]"). [9]
References
- ↑ "Jair Bolsonaro é apresentado como pré-candidato à Presidência da República".
- ↑ Upside Down World. "Brazilian Elections: What Happens Next?". upsidedownworld.org.
- ↑ "The Most Misogynistic, Hateful Elected Official in the Democratic World: Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro - The Intercept". The Intercept.
- 1 2 3 4 http://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/25/weekinreview/conversations-jair-bolsonaro-soldier-turned-politician-wants-give-brazil-back.html
- ↑ "É chegada a hora de dar um "Basta!" às boçalidades de Bolsonaro, hoje o mais importante aliado da esquerda boçal: ambos se alimentam e se merecem!". Reinaldo Azevedo - VEJA.com.br.
- ↑ "Brazilian Congressman Tells Colleague She's Not Worth Raping". The Huffington Post.
- ↑ "UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS, Office of the High Commissioner South America". acnudh.org.
- ↑ Watts, Jonathan (2016-04-18). "Dilma Rousseff: Brazilian congress votes to impeach president". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
- ↑ http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/politica/bolsonaro-diz-ser-vitima-de-heterofobia-por-jean-wyllys,b0783932f099c410VgnVCM20000099cceb0aRCRD.html