In Jair Bolsonaro's discourse through social networks there are two moments: the first is as a candidate, where his gutter played a fundamental role in the dissemination of an anti-democratic right-wing discourse, and the second is when he assumes the presidency, where allied accounts continued with the promotion of his discourse.
This was pointed out by data analyst Eduardo Paz in a recent study, where he points out that, in a first stage, from social networks, the then candidate denounced the members of the Workers' Party (PT) as a corrupt elite that sought to corrupt the family through the promotion of homosexuality and also assumed a developmentalist position that put the Amazon rainforest at risk.
However, he details that once he assumed the presidency, his account became more institutional and his discourse focused on promoting the achievements of his government; so Bolsonarist discourse was spread from "allied" accounts that continued to openly promote hatred towards the PT, accusing them of promoting the genocide of unborn children, an education that promotes homosexuality and goes against the values of Brazilian families.
In this way, during his time as a presidential candidate, Jair Bolsonaro raised anti-democratic values that were embodied in a speech that presented the election as a war against the nation's corrupters, the text specified.
This discourse, he detailed, facilitated his alliance with the evangelical churches, by raising the traditional family as the official model, and a great closeness with the business elites, by allowing the exploitation of new spaces for cattle raising. Finally, the constant construction of the PT, and particularly Lula, as the corrupt enemy to be destroyed was maintained.
Paz pointed out that democracy suffered attacks on two fronts: first, by confronting political rivals as enemies and not as adversaries, which promoted the polarization of society and intolerance of others, generating an environment where violence can easily arise at any level of society.
Secondly, he said, by imposing a vision of the family on gender dissidents, it violated the democratic value of respect for the opinion of others, since it seeks to force gender dissidents to submit to the values of the traditional family, based on the non-recognition of their way of life.
This rise of anti-democratic far-right discourse in Brazil is part of a renewed wave in the Americas and Europe, where democracy has failed to sustain its promise of development for all.
For the same reason, the speeches against it have resonance in a population tired of not obtaining the benefits accumulated by a few. However, paradoxically, the population chooses a government option that historically benefits only a few.
Within all this, the socio-digital networks that allow a contact "without mediations" between the population and the messages of the candidates play a fundamental role; since they become a space where everything can be said without any measure.
For the same reason, speeches that until now were considered unspeakable can be said without any restriction. Speeches that appeal to the frustration of the population to achieve their electoral triumphs without proposing any real alternative of government.
This article was produced with the support of the organization Global Exchange in collaboration with Peninsula 360 Press.
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