In Brazil, more than half a million people have signed a petition “in defense of democracy” in response to comments from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. In the run-up to the presidential elections in early October, Bolsonaro has repeatedly criticized the electoral system in Brazil since 1996 and the voting machines used. His comments raise doubts as to whether he will accept an election defeat.
The petition was launched by members of the law faculty of the University of São Paulo and was signed by more than 546,000 of the more than 212 million Brazilians on Saturday afternoon (local time). “At the moment there is a great danger to normal democracy. Republican institutions are at risk and there are insinuations that election results will not be respected,” the promoters write, without directly mentioning Bolsonaro’s name.
Unfounded and unproven attacks have called into question the electoral process and the democratic rule of law achieved through tremendous efforts by Brazilian society. Threats against other rulers, incitement to violence and an institutional break cannot be tolerated,” the petition initiators continued.
It is striking that the petition has been signed by several Brazilian former chief justices, the Brazilian banking federation and the influential federation of industry in São Paulo, among others. The latter two are particularly noteworthy, as Bolsonaro received a lot of support from the corporate sector in the run-up to the elections four years ago.
Bolsonaro was officially named the right-wing Liberal Party (PL) candidate for the presidential election in October last week. According to polls, the right-wing populist is far behind left-wing ex-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is running on behalf of the left-wing Workers’ Party (PT).
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