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Brazil's Lurch to the Right

What is behind the dramatic rise of far-right Brazilian politician, Jair Bolsonaro?

This weekend, if the polls are right, Brazilians are expected to elect an obscure far-right politician as their next president. Jair Bolsonaro has spent over 20 years in Congress in a variety of fringe parties to very little effect. Now he is promising to root out the corruption that's endemic in Brazilian politics and crack down on crime. Brazil has some of the highest murder rates in the world and Bolsonaro wants to loosen gun laws and make it easier for the police to shoot to kill criminals. His opponents accuse him of supporting extra-judicial killings as well promoting homophobic and misogynistic views. Ritula Shah and a panel of expert guests looks at what Jair Bolsonaro is proposing for Brazil. How has he come to prominence? Who are his backers? And can a man who speaks so fondly of Brazil's military dictatorship really be trusted with its democracy?

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Sat 27 Oct 2018 11:06GMT

Contributors

Dr Mahrukh Doctor - Reader in political economy at the University of Hull

Dr Monica Arruda de Almeida - Professor at Georgetown University

Sergio Fausto - Executive director of the Fernando Henrique Cardoso Institute

Diego Scardone - Parliamentary Advisor for the leader of the PT in the Senate

Photo

Supporters of right-wing Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro by Fabio Vieira/FotoRua/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Broadcasts

  • Fri 26 Oct 2018 08:06GMT
  • Fri 26 Oct 2018 17:06GMT
  • Fri 26 Oct 2018 23:06GMT
  • Sat 27 Oct 2018 03:06GMT
  • Sat 27 Oct 2018 11:06GMT

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