Ione Wells

He campaigned on a platform of very socially conservative populist policies at a time when that was a bit of a zeitgeist around the world and other parts of the world to aimed at voters generally quite frustrated with crime, with corruption, with the economy not being very good. I think there's a kind of familiar nostalgia that he appealed to that we've seen with other populist figures as well.

This sort of idea of a better time in the past. There had been four elections that had been won by the left in Brazil before. And I think there was a sense of people kind of wanting change, basically. In terms of sort of things that he talks about on social media, in his speeches, he often attacked political correctness. He was accused at times of

This sort of idea of a better time in the past. There had been four elections that had been won by the left in Brazil before. And I think there was a sense of people kind of wanting change, basically. In terms of sort of things that he talks about on social media, in his speeches, he often attacked political correctness. He was accused at times of

saying sort of homophobic remarks, praising the country's former dictatorship, some of his comments about women, for example, sparking controversy online. One really interesting thing, actually, as well, which really shone an international spotlight on him, and I think is interesting to remind people of now, he was stabbed.

saying sort of homophobic remarks, praising the country's former dictatorship, some of his comments about women, for example, sparking controversy online. One really interesting thing, actually, as well, which really shone an international spotlight on him, and I think is interesting to remind people of now, he was stabbed.

during his campaign rally in 2018, which really mobilised his supporters and gained him this increased media attention.

during his campaign rally in 2018, which really mobilised his supporters and gained him this increased media attention.

And it's interesting because, of course, not dissimilar to how that assassination attempt on Donald Trump in the last US election campaign did a similar thing and really mobilised his base as well and sort of suddenly got the international media talking about it for days and days and days.

And it's interesting because, of course, not dissimilar to how that assassination attempt on Donald Trump in the last US election campaign did a similar thing and really mobilised his base as well and sort of suddenly got the international media talking about it for days and days and days.

Definitely. I think in terms of policies, they're quite similar, both socially conservative, appealing to their base on so-called anti-woke issues, anti-net zero, anti-environmental protections. They want a sort of low tax society pledged to be tough on crime. On his rhetoric too, again, quite a lot of parallels with Donald Trump. He's very outspoken, particularly on social media.

Definitely. I think in terms of policies, they're quite similar, both socially conservative, appealing to their base on so-called anti-woke issues, anti-net zero, anti-environmental protections. They want a sort of low tax society pledged to be tough on crime. On his rhetoric too, again, quite a lot of parallels with Donald Trump. He's very outspoken, particularly on social media.

His family also very involved with his brand as well, especially his sons. So again, a bit of a parallel there with Donald Trump. In terms of his base as well, I think there are some similarities. He's got a big backing in particular in Brazil among evangelicals, a religious group that has grown a lot in Brazil in particular.

His family also very involved with his brand as well, especially his sons. So again, a bit of a parallel there with Donald Trump. In terms of his base as well, I think there are some similarities. He's got a big backing in particular in Brazil among evangelicals, a religious group that has grown a lot in Brazil in particular.

the left in Brazil typically do better in more metropolitan areas among unionised manufacturing workers, for example, whereas Bolsonaro has really managed to grow quite a base in some of the more rural areas, appealing to the so-called, you know, sort of left behind parts of the country.

the left in Brazil typically do better in more metropolitan areas among unionised manufacturing workers, for example, whereas Bolsonaro has really managed to grow quite a base in some of the more rural areas, appealing to the so-called, you know, sort of left behind parts of the country.

And I think in that sense, yeah, there are lots of parallels, both in terms of policy rhetoric, but also who their base is as well.

And I think in that sense, yeah, there are lots of parallels, both in terms of policy rhetoric, but also who their base is as well.

Yeah, I think that's right. And I think his even his sort of sense of humour at times has been something that might raise eyebrows among if it was sort of any other politician that said it. But with him, it's not really surprising. I mean, he did a joke recently, for example, when he was doing an interview with The New York Times, where he talked about being sort of energised.

Yeah, I think that's right. And I think his even his sort of sense of humour at times has been something that might raise eyebrows among if it was sort of any other politician that said it. But with him, it's not really surprising. I mean, he did a joke recently, for example, when he was doing an interview with The New York Times, where he talked about being sort of energised.

And he even mentioned, joked about sort of not using Viagra anymore and things like that, which is just sort of comments that you wouldn't imagine most politicians to sort of be caught dead saying. And yet somehow when Bolsonaro says that he's allowed to sort of get away with that among his base. They think it's funny. It's part of his brand, I suppose.