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Brazilian far-right party deny Ronaldinho will be candidate
RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 16, 2017 (BSS/AFP) – A far-right Brazilian party on
Friday denied reports that World Cup-winning footballer Ronaldinho is to be
one of its candidates in elections for the Senate.
“There is no agreement between the party and Ronaldinho for him to launch
a bid for a Senate seat,” the party, Patriota, said.
Patriota is led by Jair Bolsonaro, a firebrand former army officer dubbed
the “Brazilian Donald Trump” who is riding high in opinion polls ahead of
next year’s presidential elections.
O Globo’s website reported Thursday that former Barcelona and Paris Saint-
German star Ronaldinho was to run for a seat in the southeastern state of
Minas Gerais.
The article showed a photograph of Ronaldinho with Bolsonaro, with the
footballer holding a copy of a book by the politician.
Patriota’s president Adilson Barroso said: “He is not a member of our
party, but the door is open and it would be an honour to have him with us.”
Ronaldinho, 37, won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0805 hrs