Global Exchange warns that rights and democracy are at risk in Brazil's upcoming elections, just days before Brazilians cast their ballots in a first round to elect their next president, national congress, governors and state legislatures.
Through a press release, the San Francisco-based international human rights organization detailed that, during these elections to be held this Sunday, October 2, in their first round, the country's democratic institutions are under real pressure.
He also pointed out that former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who served as the 35th president of the Federative Republic of Brazil between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2010, and who is running for a second term, leads by wide margins in practically all polls.
However, he detailed that the current president, Jair Bolsonaro, has openly rejected the legitimacy of any possible outcome other than his own reelection, mobilizing his followers to do the same.
"Concern that anti-democratic actions could trigger a return to military rule is widespread. So is concern about unfair electoral practices and even physical threats, especially against black and indigenous candidates, social activists and academics who have spoken out against increasingly authoritarian practices," he said in the text.
Global Exchange, in collaboration with this media, conducted a journalistic and social investigation in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to learn first-hand about the socio-political conditions prior to the elections.
You can read the report Brazil 2022 Elections: Rights and democracy at risk. Pre-election report, click here.
The research revealed that the government headed by Jair Bolsonaro is generating an anti-democratic narrative - including the use of hate speech and "fake news" on social networks - that contributes to increasing tension and could encourage violent actions such as those that have already occurred in the context of these elections.
"This tension encouraged by Jair Bolsonaro's rhetoric generates fear among academics and candidates representing minorities, particularly black, indigenous and LGBTQIA+ people, whom President Bolsonaro's most extreme supporters, many of them military, police or armed civilians, consider a target," the organization detailed.
In light of this, Global Exchange made an urgent appeal to the Brazilian government, the international press and other international organizations to monitor and protect the integrity of activists, academics and candidates, particularly those representing minorities such as indigenous peoples, Afro-Caribbeans, women and the groups they represent.
The organization said it will cover the elections in Brazil through a team of international and local journalists based in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador de Bahia and the Amazon region, and will produce reports and multimedia content in English and Spanish that media outlets interested in the material will be able to publish on their platforms.
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