Political change in Brazil
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Filled with fear as they look forward to beating a multi-million dollar election next year between two elderly presidents who spoke out and shared, many in Brazil are looking for an alternative.
Eduardo Leite believes that is the answer.
The 36-year-old leader of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, made headlines in July when he became the country’s first terrorist ambassador. This was a brave one, given on the right President Jair Bolsonarothey are proud of homosexuals and of what they have said in the past that Brazil “does not like homosexuals”. But Leite told the Financial Times that his announcement confirmed the president’s mistake.
“I was very well received, very polite and I am happy that the country is changing even under the presidency,” he told Zoom. “People accept and respect [my sexuality]”.
Leite’s political career began in his hometown of Pelotas as a 23-year-old councilor. Four years later he won the election as mayor and in 2018 won the ambassador’s race. He ran for office under the banner of the Social Democratic Party (PSDB), a right-wing party that served as president from 1995-2002 but was retained by politicians.
“Leite is a very interesting man with a strong history,” said Oliver Stuenkel, a political scientist at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation in São Paulo. “He’s so young he can show up for re-election and he’s the one who wants to run for office. But Achilles’ heel is that he did not oppose Bolsonaro in the 2018 election.
The largest economy in Latin America, Brazil is facing serious challenges as it recovers human and coronavirus damage. More than 585,000 people have died and the numbers of the poor and unemployed have risen, resulting in higher income demands and higher taxes.
Bolsonaro is seeking a second term but the blast on the right side of the epidemic, its attacks on democratic institutions and the economic movement have agreed to reduce its numbers.
Former President Luiz Inacio “EasyDa Silva has run for office for the sixth time in his 75-year-old presidency. Car Wash investigation – the largest corruption scandal in Latin America.
Before taking up arms against the two giants, Leite has to deal with a number of obstacles.
The first is winning the PSDB Presidential election. The party is divided over how to respond to Bolsonaro and the head of state, São Paulo’s ambassador to João Doria, should not relinquish his ambitions to the President, even a few.
Leite must win enough votes in the first round of presidential elections to force it. As the year draws to a close, recent polls show Lula is close to getting her first knock, with a 40% support.
Another problem is that Leite has no place near the name of Lula or Bolsonaro. “This is a problem for immigrants,” Stuenkel said. “That’s why parties always like to bring in well-known people, such as professional athletes or TV viewers.”
The governor confirms that the strong rejection of Lula and Bolsonaro provides a fair opportunity for those seeking a “third option”. It is true that Brazil could do this political miracle: Bolsonaro was not well known when he submitted his request for president and few just played his chance.
Research shows that Leite’s current support among voters, as with most “third party” candidates, is still low – but this could quickly change once the campaign begins.
Leite is set to make his mark in Rio Grande do Sul, a region on the southernmost tip of the border with Argentina and Uruguay, where he has tried to budget, cut government pensions and secure state-owned enterprises, even while acknowledging the need for good people.
“Brazil has great potential for economic growth and to meet its challenges,” he said. “It’s not difficult, we have a country where there are huge differences between people, economy and opportunities. . . But it is possible to follow a different course quickly. ”
The key, he explains, is to alleviate the concerns raised by Bolsonaro in initiating negotiations and setting up the country to boost funding. This approach has made him a friend among the free Brazilians and his businesses.
Former central bank president Arminio Fraga described Leite as “very handsome”. He would have won his party’s election “I think he would have surprised the people. I think the Brazilian people are tired of all the crazy stuff and it would be great to have something different that sounds stable.”
What is hard to see is that Leite’s unwavering support for the economy, non-commercial – and his Bolsonaro vote in the run-up to the 2018 general election, which he says is wrong – will win voters who are worried about economic growth and high unemployment.
Federal lawmaker Bruno Gass of Lula’s Workers Party has rejected a candidate’s proposal for a “third option”. “All those who want to present themselves as a ‘third party’ agree on what Bolsonaro wants to do financially,” he said. “Eduardo Leite is a unique example.”