Bolsonaro, Touched by Support, Acknowledges his Incompetence at Times

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In a sort of outburst, President Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) said on late Friday afternoon, September 6th, that he acknowledges moments of limitation and incompetence in the exercise of his mandate.

Clearly moved, the president spoke on the doorstep of the Palácio da Alvorada, when he was greeted by sympathizers who congratulated him on the one-year anniversary of his stabbing during the presidential campaign.

“I acknowledge my limitations, my weaknesses, my incompetence at times. But I will remain committed to doing my best,” he said.

Bolsonaro has been uneasy since Thursday, September 5th, with negative reactions from voters regarding the appointment of assistant prosecutor general Augusto Aras to the PGR (Office of District Attorney).

Live on social media, the president even asked for comments against the nominee to succeed federal prosecutor general Raquel Dodge to be deleted and called for a vote of confidence. On Friday, he again explained his choice.

“Yesterday [Thursday] I chose the new Federal Prosecutor General. It was a difficult choice, but it is a person with a degree of importance very similar to that of a president,” said Bolsonaro. “We can’t just focus on corruption, there’s also the environmental and human rights issues”.

Approximately 50 people in total greeted Bolsonaro. They sang “Happy Birthday,” leading him to tear up. A party was also held at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia hospital in Juiz de Fora (MG), where he was treated after the stab wound.

“I am relentless,” said the president, emphasizing that he will not give up his mission in office. “Thank you for your good wishes. A year of life,” he said.

Bolsonaro had already chosen Augusto Aras for the PGR in late June. However, he decided to defer the announcement to cool down criticism of the assistant prosecutor general, particularly within his own party, the PSL, which had accused the nominee of an affinity with the left-wing.

During this period, Bolsonaro sent speakers to Congress to individually address leaders of parliamentary fronts in an attempt to reduce resistance to Aras’ appointment.

On Thursday, before the official announcement of Aras’s name, the president met with representatives of the evangelical, agribusiness, and public safety caucuses, considered the government’s main bases of support.