How did Bolsonaro win the Brazilian elections?
Oct 30, 2018•18 min
Episode description
Jorge Martin, editor of América Socialista and writer for In Defence of Marxism, discusses the results of Sunday's presidential elections in Brazil, where the far-right candidate, Jair Bolsonaro, won with 55% of the vote.
As Jorge explains, Bolsonaro is an extremely reactionary politician, who will go on the offensive against the working class and the oppressed. But his election does not represent a rise of fascism in Brazil. Rather, it reflects the hatred towards the establishment and the broken status quo.
The blame for Bolsonaro's victory lies at the feet of the PT, who have been thoroughly discredited through years of carrying out austerity and attacks on the working class whilst in government.
Above all, this election will mark a political turning point in Brazil, leading to increased social turbulence and an intensification of the class struggle, as workers mobilise and organise to defend themselves against this new reactionary government.