Accusations of corruption fly as Brazilians head to polls to elect president

In Brazil this Sunday, Oct. 25, socialist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Workers’ Party, currently serving as president, will face off at the polls against Liberal Party candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The runoff follows the first round that took place on Oct. 4, with results that demonstrated the sharp political polarization within the world’s most populous Catholic country. Bolsonaro secured 47.1% of the valid votes, compared with 40.5% for Da Silva.

The political tension reached new heights following a heated Oct. 18 debate between the two candidates. It was the first face-to-face encounter of the electoral contest, and according to Datafolha, it has had an immediate impact: Voter preference has shifted slightly in favor of Bolsonaro.

The latest poll indicates that 47% of Brazilians intend to vote for the conservative candidate, while 45% favor Da Silva, a result that is essentially a statistical dead heat.

Accusations of corruption

“The quality of the debate has been very low,” said journalist Marcelo Musa Cavallari, editor-in-chief of ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News.

“Both candidates focused far more on accusing their opponent of crimes and corruption, while there was very little real discussion of proposals for the country or ideas for the nation’s development.”

Certainly, one of the key moments of the debate involved the mutual accusations regarding corruption cases linked to Da Silva and to Bolsonaro’s inner circle.

The current president spent 580 days in prison between 2018 and 2019, following his conviction for accepting bribes — totaling over a million dollars — from a construction firm, which he used to renovate and furnish a three-story luxury apartment in São Paulo.

Da Silva was released from prison following a ruling by the Supreme Federal Court, which annulled his conviction on the grounds that his rights had not been upheld during the legal proceedings. At least eight other cases remain open in the courts against da Silva, involving charges of corruption, influence peddling, and money laundering.

Meanwhile, the Bolsonaro family is not exempt from accusations. Flávio himself is currently under investigation by the Brazilian justice system for alleged crimes involving corruption, money laundering, and currency evasion.

At the same time, Eduardo — Jair’s son and Flávio’s younger brother — was sentenced this year by the Supreme Federal Court to more than four years in prison for coercing the justice system and attempting foreign interference. Furthermore, he has been barred from holding political office for eight years. Eduardo Bolsonaro has taken refuge in the United States.

Former President Jair Bolsonaro is serving a sentence of more than 27 years handed down by the Supreme Federal Court after being found guilty of an attempted coup dʼétat, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, and participation in an armed criminal organization.

Issues of particular interest to Catholics

When asked about the candidates’ positions on issues of particular interest to Catholics, Cavallari explained that as is the case in much of the Western world, it is the left-wing parties, such as those represented by Da Silva, that advocate for abortion.

“For his part, Flávio Bolsonaro enjoys the support of Protestant churches,” he said. According to Datafolha, the candidate is backed by 59% of Protestants, which represents his “greatest advantage.” Cavallari noted that the evangelical community makes up “a significant part of the pro-life movement in Brazil.”

Furthermore, regarding crime and insecurity, the veteran journalist noted that Da Silva “is seen as highly untrustworthy by voters.” In contrast, Bolsonaro has the support of several senators who “have served as police officers or police chiefs,” which contributes to a “much tougher stance” when it comes to security.

Various polls identify security as the primary concern for Brazilian voters, followed closely by economic issues. Regarding the latter, Cavallari noted that Da Silva’s economic proposals have not had the expected impact on the electorate and, in practice, would entail an enormous cost — “billions of reais” (the national currency) — to the national treasury.

Over the past year, the Brazilian economy has experienced a period of moderate slowdown. In September, year-on-year inflation reached 4.58%, an uptick driven primarily by the rising global cost of energy and fuel.

“The money isn’t there; it’s impossible to pay for everything he promised. So, this is purely an electoral ploy. In the future, making a promise that one knows cannot be kept could even be considered an electoral crime,” noted Cavallari, referring to Da Silva’s proposal to ease the debt burden on Brazilian families through the “Desenrola Brasil 3.0” plan.

The proposal is an aggressive financial rescue plan under which the Brazilian state would directly purchase portfolios of delinquent debt from banks, subsequently refinancing them for citizens with discounts ranging from at least 90% up to 95%. This has been one of the socialist candidate’s primary campaign proposals.

What will determine the outcome of the election?

A factor that could tip the scales in the runoff, Cavallari explained, is the electorate’s “desire for renewal.” Da Silva, who is 80 years old, has been a presidential candidate since 1989 and is now running for his fourth, nonconsecutive term.

“He is a very well-known figure. He is the man who has spent the most time in the Brazilian presidency in the country’s history,” Cavallari said. “There is a sense of fatigue regarding Lula.”

On the other hand, he noted that there is currently an “institutional crisis” affecting almost every sector of public life. Much of this, Cavallari continued, “is perceived by the electorate as being Lula’s responsibility.”

In this regard, the Brazilian journalist emphasized that a potential victory for Flávio Bolsonaro would be “almost an act of revenge” for his supporters, who seek to vindicate former President Jair Bolsonaro, a man they view as being persecuted by a Brazilian justice system affected by the crisis, allegedly instrumentalized by Da Silva and the local left. “That is why the tension in Brazil is so high,” he observed.

In June, the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil issued a message urging voters to cast a conscious, ethical vote committed to the common good, while also stating that “the Catholic Church does not endorse candidates or parties.”

The bishops warned against corruption, vote-buying, disinformation, and political polarization while denouncing the “scandalous social inequality” the country is experiencing.

However, Cavallari reflected on the support that some bishops have shown for the candidates, noting that “it is difficult” to say whether these expressions of support influence the Catholic vote, as one must distinguish between “how Brazil’s bishops think and how the Catholic faithful think.”

“The point is that the Workers’ Party, Lula’s party, was to a large extent a creation of Brazil’s progressive Catholic Church. Within the National Conference of Bishops, there remains a strong preference for, and significant support for, Lula — even though they have committed to not taking an official stance in favor of any particular candidate,” he explained.

“In the first round of these elections, Lula saw his worst performance among Catholic voters. Although he secured a majority, it is the smallest majority he has ever received in any of his candidacies,” Cavallari said.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Source: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/americas/accusations-of-corruption-fly-as-brazilians-to-head-to-the-polls-to-elect-president