By: Ava BreslinOn Oct. 28, 2018, far right candidate, Jair Bolsonaro, was elected as President of Brazil in a 55.7% vote. Due to his strong conservative views, many wonder how the country swayed so far right in this election? Previous president Michel Temer was a part of the Brazilian Democratic Movement, which is a slight right-leaning party. However, both presidents preceding him were from the Workers’ party, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff. This party is left-leaning and a close equivalent of socialism.
Violence in Brazil has reached, some would say, an all-time high. A new record has been set, according to the Brazilian Forum of Public Security, of 30.8 violent crimes per 100,000 people. To combat this, Bolsonaro believes in arming civilians in order to protect themselves. This was added on top of the installation of the policy that allows police to shoot suspects of these crimes. “Long live the military police” was chanted in the streets after the win, bringing more power to law enforcement. A little over two weeks after being sworn in, Bolsonaro signed a declaration that would make it easier for civilians to purchase weapons. Specifically, it takes away the requirement to declare why someone needs a gun, making it much less restrictive. Under the Bolsonaro administration, many are concerned the voices of women will be squandered. Outside of the congressional chamber in 2003, it was said that Jair Bolsonaro and congresswoman Maria do Rosário had gotten into a verbal argument over Bolsonaro’s stance on rape. According to the Guardian, Rosário said, “You sir, promote violence.” In response, Bolsonaro replied, “Oh, I’m a rapist now?” Rosário then affirmed his question and Bolsonaro responded aggressively saying, “I would never rape you because you don’t deserve it.” This interaction has stirred up feelings of fear in the minds of Brazilian women regarding the Bolsonaro administration. According to Independent.co.uk, in 2013 alone 1 in 200 women had been sexually assualted. This makes the anger toward these statements widespread in the country, as his statements which to many seem to condone rape. On 2018’s International Womens’ Day, Bolsonaro stated that women of Brazil have to, “stop whining; stop with this story of femicide.” Femicide is the motivated killing of women due to their gender, and in 2015 was seen as a higher level of crime with tougher punishment attached to it. The large gender wage gap in Brazil has been explained by Bolsonaro as compensation for the paid leave many women take while out on maternity leave. To the birth of his own daughter, he believed it “made him weaker.” Under the same umbrella of womens’ rights, abortion and birth control has been a hot topic for the new President. The country already doesn’t permit abortions except under certain circumstances, specifically cases of rape, fetal abnormality or danger to the mother’s life. However, recently Brazil’s supreme court has been looking into allowing “elective abortions up to 12 weeks of pregnancy” (TIME.com). Bolsonaro has promised the Catholic population that he plans on stopping any alterations to the previous law. His opinions on minorities in Brazil are eye-catching as well as Brazil is home to many different races and ethnicities, and the majority of the population are of African descent. According to Time.com, Bolsonaro believes that any, “minorities have to bend down to the majority...The minorities [should] either adapt or simply vanish.” Some have found statement muddled, seeing as people of African descent make up the majority of people in Brazil. That though doesn’t seem to be the main concern people have with Bolsonaro. Exploration of gender identity and demonstrations promoting rights for members of the LGBT community have also been shut down by Bolsonaro. The minister of Women, Family and Human Rights appointed by Bolsonaro, Damares Alves, stated that “girls wear pink, and boys wear blue...girls will be princesses, and boys will be princes.” In his inauguration speech, Jan. 1, 2019, Bolsonaro states that “we will unite the people, value the family, respect religion and our Judeo Christian tradition, combat gender ideology and rescue our values.” Perpetuating the opposition to any kinds of modern gender identity under his administration. This ideology has been taken to the classrooms of Brazil where Bolsonaro’s minister of Education, Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez has shut down the section devoted to human rights and stated that he is against discussion and study of gender ideology in the classroom. President Bolsonaro has economic policies that align with the conservative nature of the party. Specifically, he plans on slashing taxes and making private investment easier. This, in turn, is supposed to create millions of jobs for the country.
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