Brazilian opposition party member executed over fears of violent elections | Abroad

Police say guard Jorge José da Rocha turned up uninvited on Saturday night at the birthday party of Marcelo Arruda, a local Workers’ Party official. Witnesses report that Da Rocha shot Arruda after he shouted support for Bolsonaro.

Arruda, a staunch supporter of leftist presidential candidate Luiz Inácio da Silva, fired back before he died, wounding his attacker. He is now in hospital, authorities said.

The incident shocked many Brazilians. In addition, politicians are concerned about an increase in violence by supporters of both Bolsonaro and the leftist da Silva, who is now leading the polls. Bolsonaro himself was nearly killed by a hit man during the 2018 presidential election.

Brazilian Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco said the assassination was “a pure expression of deep political hatred and intolerance.” He urged Bolsonaro and da Silva to calm their supporters.

Da Silva said on Twitter Monday that Brazil “needs to get back to normal” and blamed Bolsonaro’s anti-left rhetoric for the incident. Bolsonaro said he is against any act of violence, although he did not elaborate on his supporter’s alleged involvement in Arruda’s murder. He has repeatedly accused the left of fomenting political violence.

Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo, said Arruda’s murder also has a chance to cool political vehemence and quell political violence, but warned that it could make violence the new could be normal in the current presidential campaign.

“This violence in Brazilian politics did not start on Saturday. Da Silva’s bus was shot at in 2018, Bolsonaro was stabbed that year and other minor incidents have continued since then,” Melo told ABC News.