News / Brazil

Trump of the tropics Bolsonaro wins Brazil presidential polls in blow to left

Monday, 29 October 2018 12:07 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 29 October 2018 2:58 AM ]

Jair Bolsonaro, far-right lawmaker and presidential candidate for the Social Liberal Party (PSL), gestures to supporters, during the second round of the presidential elections, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 28, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro wins Brazil’s presidential polls in a body blow to the country’s left-of-the-center politicians, who were in the saddle for the most part of its most recent history.

The vote went underway on Sunday, giving Bolsonaro 56 percent of the ballots and left-wing hopeful Fernando Haddad of the Workers Party (PT) 44 percent, with 94 percent of the ballots counted.

The PT ruled Brazil for 13 years of the last 15, suffering defeat only two years ago, amid sweeping public resentment at worsening economic conditions.

Sixty-three-year-old Bolsonaro, a former army captain and seven-term congressman, was also thrown to the fore by popular outrage at corruption and crime.

As assurances were in that he had swept the polls, he pledged to defend "the constitution, democracy and freedom."

His past remarks have, however, given rise to speculation that he could drive the country towards authoritarianism. On election trail, he would praise Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship and defend its use of torture on leftist opponents.

"We cannot continue flirting with communism ... We are going to change the destiny of Brazil," he added.

He has vowed to grant the police more autonomy to shoot criminals, and seeks to let more Brazilians buy weapons.

Known as "Tropical Trump," president-elect Bolsonaro said US President Donald Trump called to wish him good luck after his electoral victory on Sunday, in what the former Brazilian Army captain said was “obviously a very friendly contact”.