Allies of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) saw as positive the final balance of the two international trips, to London and New York, less than two weeks before the elections.
For them, the presence of the Chief Executive in the two main world events of the moment, especially his speech at the opening of the UN General Assembly, reinforced his presidential figure and guaranteed him wide media exposure.
On the other hand, they saw Bolsonaro’s speech on the balcony of the Brazilian ambassador’s official residence in London as a slip, when the president adopted an electoral campaign tone for his supporters. He was accused of disregarding national mourning in the UK over the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The assessment is that Bolsonaro could have thanked the presence of supporters in London, but reinforced that the occasion was one of mourning for the monarch and left the campaign statements for another time.
In his speech to supporters in the English capital, the president adopted an electoral tone. He said he will be elected in the first round and repeated conservative flags he has raised in his speeches, such as his opposition to abortion and the decriminalization of drugs.
A decision by the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) prohibited the campaign from using images of the speech made on the balcony of the official residence. It also determined the removal of videos published on Eduardo Bolsonaro’s (PL-SP) networks.
The images, however, had already been replicated on the networks on Bolsonarista pages, as well as others of Bolsonaro with supporters and going to the official funeral ceremony. Such as Sheet showed, the campaign saw as central a photo of Bolsonaro with King Charles III, successor to Elizabeth II, which it achieved.
The objective was to reinforce Bolsonaro’s image as a ruler who participates in important international events and who is received by relevant personalities.
The president also recorded a video at a gas station in England to say that fuel in the country is more expensive than in Brazil, despite income in the United Kingdom being higher.
The minimum wage in the UK is around R$9,175 per month, while in Brazil it is R$1,212.
Bolsonaro went to London to attend the wake of Elizabeth II. He was accompanied by First Lady Michelle and Pastor Silas Malafaia. The campaign’s communications coordinator, Fábio Wajngarten, and deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) also traveled.
For those around the president, travel was mandatory and there was no way for Bolsonaro to remain in Brazil, even with the proximity of the campaign. According to Datafolha, former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) has 45% of the electorate’s preference against 33% for Bolsonaro.
At the United Nations, Bolsonaro used the noble space to defend his government and address the internal public. The president attacked the left and Lula – without naming him by name – and mentioned cases of corruption at Petrobras.
The speech was described by campaign members as effective and as planned, with no major surprises.
Unlike previous editions, the president adopted a more moderate tone and accepted the Itamaraty’s suggestions to avoid direct attacks on other countries, as he had been doing with Chile and Argentina.
The speech was also widely reported by national media outlets, in what allies called “free election time”.
Bolsonaro’s interlocutors believe that his presence in international events may not have turned into undecided votes, but it did not cause him to lose support either. The Chief Executive returns this Tuesday (20) to BrasÃlia.
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
