RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Jair Bolsonaro, the favorite to
win the second round of Brazil’s presidential elections, on Thursday declared
himself an “admirer” of US President Donald Trump.
Speaking during his first news conference since securing 46 percent of the
vote in Sunday’s first round — trailed by leftist Fernando Haddad, who took
29 percent — populist Bolsonaro also denied being a far-right leader.
“I’m not far-right. Point to me an act of mine that is far-right,” he said.
“When I spoke of the migration question, it’s because we can’t have a
country with open borders,” he added, a point echoing Trump’s anti-
immigration rhetoric.
“I’m an admirer of President Trump. He wants a great United States — I
want a great Brazil.”
Bolsonaro’s detractors highlight his contentious past comments demeaning
women and gay people, and speaking in favor of torture and Brazil’s 1964-1985
military dictatorship.