On Election Eve, Bolsonaro Solicits Votes for Allies in Municipal Contests

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In the final run-up to the municipal elections, President Jair Bolsonaro used his Facebook profile on Saturday, November 14th, to call for votes for allies, but did not mention his son, Carlos Bolsonaro, who is running for reelection as city councilor in Rio de Janeiro for the Republicanps party. Over the past few days, the President has been calling for votes for his #2 son on social media posts and live streams.

Carlos Bolsonaro is seeking his sixth election to the city of Rio de Janeiro’s legislature. The President’s son’s performance at the polls will serve as an indicator of the President’s approval in his electoral stronghold.

“We humbly ask for the support of the Rio de Janeiro people to vote for Carlos Bolsonaro,” the President said this week.

On Friday, the city councilor used his social media to urge supporters to be cautious. “The election is only won when the votes are counted. Although anything may happen in an induced or natural way, before and after the process is closed. Let’s not count the chickens before they hatch,” he wrote in the caption when he published a video in which his father calls for votes.

On Saturday’s post, Bolsonaro mentions candidates for city and town halls in several cities. Prominent among them are Celso Russomanno and Marcelo Crivella, both of the Republicanos party, running for the City Halls of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro respectively.

The President also mentions Walderice Santos da Conceição, Wal do Açaí, who is running for city councilor in Angra dos Reis (RJ).

On the President’s list are also candidates for mayor of Manaus (AM), Santos (SP), Recife (PE), Belo Horizonte (MG), and Fortaleza (CE).

He also mentions candidates for city council positions in São Paulo (SP), Boa Vista (RR) and Belo Horizonte (MG). Bolsonaro called for votes for Colonel Fernanda (Patriotas), who is running for a seat in the Senate for Mato Grosso.

During the week, Bolsonaro turned his live internet streams into what he termed “free election time”. However, Friday’s live stream was canceled. The President claimed that the legislation is unclear as of that date. The use of official channels and the federal government’s structure may violate electoral law.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo