Brazilians vote to elect their future president, Sunday, October 2. At the top of the polls, we find Lula, former president and leader of the left in Brazil, followed by the current far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro. The two camps clash, sometimes violently, as in Sao Paulo.
He escaped three assault attempts during the Brazilian presidential election campaign. Guilherme Boulos is Lula’s campaign coordinator in Sao Paulo, one of the right arms of the historical leader of the Brazilian left.
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Guilherme Boulos deplores a climate “deleterious”. “A man murdered this week in the north. Last week, horribly axed to death in the west. Last month, a man shot dead during his birthday party by a bolsonarist”lists Lula’s support.
“That’s why we have to win in the first round. Brazil will not endure another 30 days of violence and Bolsonarist intimidation”
Guilherme Boulos, campaign coordinator for Lula in Sao Pauloat franceinfo
Around the one that many consider the future Lula, on the main avenue of Sao Paulo, young students. Victor stands at a distance. He does not forget the troubled past of the militant Boulos: “I don’t agree with him, he forgets the time when he invaded private properties, when he set fire to buildings, he too participated in the action of violent groups.”
Victor se “considers more of a right-wing conservative”. He claims he will vote for Bolsonaro. A Bolsonarist, peaceful and respectful of democratic debate: for Rafael, this exists, but it is rare. “We are faced today with the fear of going out with the flag of our party and being beaten up or worse, it scares the crap out of us.explains the Brazilian. You don’t know which sick person you may come across.”
“Until today I haven’t seen a Lulist assassinate a Bolsonarist, I’m waiting to see that.”
Rafael, a Brazilian from Sao Pauloat franceinfo
The threat brandished by Bolsonaro not to accept the result of the election if he is not re-elected still makes a lot of talk here, but Guilherme Boulos speaks above all of a bluff from the president. “He can create chaos, cause scenes of violence, but he doesn’t have enough support to make a coup and he knows itexplains Lula’s campaign coordinator. Do you know why Bolsonaro is threatening to strike? Because he knows that as soon as he leaves the presidency he will have to answer for his crimes. It is the desperation of a person who knows that he can end up in prison.”
In both camps, provocation is never far away. Everyone here apprehends the results of the first round and gives the feeling of being at the end of their tether.
The presidential campaign in Brazil, seen from Sao Paulo: report by Olivier Poujade and Gilles Gallinaro
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