A few weeks before Brazil’s presidential election, right-wing populist incumbent Jair Bolsonaro campaigned for the votes of powerful farmers at a rodeo event. He rode a horse through the arena at the livestock festival in Barretos, Sao Paulo state on Friday evening (see also video above), gave a short speech on the importance of the agricultural industry and prayed the “Our Father”.
Bolsonaro supporters, many dressed in the national colors of green and yellow, chanted “myth, myth” and waved Brazilian flags. Brazil will elect the next president in early October. In the elections, the incumbent will face the former left-wing head of state Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro faces an uphill battle for his reelection, trailing far behind in all polls.
Bullet, Cattle and Bible
Alongside conservative evangelicals and the gun lobby, powerful farmers in Brazil are among Bolsonaro’s main supporters. The ex-military ideology was often described as “Bala, Boi e Biblia” (Bullet, Cattle and Bible).
Since the official launch of the election campaign in early August, the far-right politician has faced criticism over Brazil’s high inflation and unemployment, even if the situation has improved somewhat since then.
“Yaaaaaaaa!”
“Not only am I proud of you. It’s all from Brazil. You know that very well. Without you, the world is starving,” Bolsonaro told his supporters. “Thank you all for this moment. God, nation, family and freedom. Yahoooooooo!” he added in an impromptu speech that lasted less than three minutes.
The president is receiving widespread support in the region for his decisions to establish a National Rodeo Day in 2020 and relax the rules for the organization of rodeos in Brazil.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
