Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro posted a shirtless video of himself dancing ahead of his country’s election on Sunday, as former President Donald Trump also encouraged Brazilians to reelect the right-wing leader.
Bolsonaro faces a formidable challenge this time around from former left-wing Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (commonly referred to as Lula), who recent polls have found has an advantage over the incumbent.
On Twitter on Saturday, Bolsonaro retweeted a post from actor Mark Ruffalo, who has publicly backed Lula in the election.
“Brazilian friends, if you’re going to vote on Sunday, @FabioPorchat promised to teach me how to dance ‘Envolver’ by @anitta,” Ruffalo tweeted.
Bolsonaro’s tweet included a video of himself dancing shirtless to the song.
On Saturday evening, Trump also posted a video touting Bolsonaro and encouraging Brazilians to support him, calling the incumbent “one of the great presidents of any country in the world.”
“He’s done an absolutely incredible job with your economy, with your country. He’s respected by everybody all throughout the world. So I strongly endorse President Bolsonaro. He will be your leader for hopefully a long time,” the former president said.
Trump formally endorsed Bolsonaro last month.
– Obrigado, meu amigo Trump! Graças ao apoio do povo brasileiro e de nossa determinação em lutar pelos interesses do Brasil, hoje somos respeitados no mundo todo e contamos com o apoio de nações livres e prósperas e não mais de ditaduras socialistas, como no passado. pic.twitter.com/p4gcAcSiIU
— Jair M. Bolsonaro 2️⃣2️⃣ (@jairbolsonaro) October 2, 2022
Bolsonaro has come under criticism for casting doubt the integrity of the country’s electoral system, and encouraging political violence.
The BBC reported Friday that Bolsonaro, without evidence, said that the country’s voting machines are susceptible to fraud.
“The system is completely vulnerable,” the Brazilian president said, who also added that the public should be suspicious of the election result if he doesn’t win “at least 60 percent,” according to CNN.
Last year, Bolsonaro rallied protests against the country’s court system after justices investigated him or criticized his election fraud claims. He also has a record of anti-LGBTQ comments and actions, such as the removal of LGBTQ rights from human rights ministry considerations and mentions of homosexuality from textbooks.
Lula’s campaign for another shot at Brazil’s presidency comes after he was released from jail in 2019 after being convicted on corruption charges. The former president’s conviction and sentence was vacated by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court in 2021. The United Nations Human Rights Committee found that Lula’s criminal investigation and prosecution “violated his right to be tried by an impartial tribunal, his right to privacy and his political rights.”
“One year ago, Lula was behind bars, now he’s leading the polls in a plot twist worthy of one of the Brazilian beloved telenovelas. He is back and leading the polls in a presidential election seized by violence, extreme political polarization, and an intentional campaign led by his adversary, President Jair Bolsonaro, doubting the electoral process and institutions,” Bruna Santos, a senior adviser at the Wilson Center’s Brazil Institute told Newsweek in an email on Sunday.
“Bolsonaro has spent the last two years spreading conspiracy theories about Brazil’s electoral system. Most polls suggest Lula could win outright on Sunday, avoiding a subsequent runoff on Oct. 30,” she added.
Newsweek has reached out to Trump’s press office for comment.
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