Bolsonaro not to attend TV debate, says he fears for his life

Presidential hopeful Jair Bolsonaro, of the Liberal Social Party (PSL), said during a live broadcast on social media Friday (Oct. 18) that he fears for his own safety, hence the decision not to take part in debates and to avoid gatherings. He compared himself to Judge Sergio Moro, in charge of the cases under Operation Car Wash, Brazil’s biggest anti-corruption crackdown.

To support his case, the candidate added he was examined by a medical team in Rio de Janeiro—not where he underwent surgery, in São Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital.

“I was advised not to go because, after landing in São Paulo, I could suffer an attack on my way out, and that would be perfect for those out there [his opponents].”

Candidate Jair Bolsonaro - Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil

At a moment when presidential hopefuls exchange allegations over the spread of fake news, Bolsonaro denied that executives  supporting him are financing the publication of falsehoods on smartphone app WhatsApp against his challenger Fernando Haddad’s Workers’ Party (PT).

“We don’t need to produce fake news to fight Haddad […]. They don’t have any evidence,” he said. Bolsonaro’s counsel vowed to notify companies and prosecute his rival. As a response, the PT lodged a motion on Thursday on the spread of false messages.

Health concerns

Wearing a green and yellow shirt, Bolsonaro made a live broadcast next to his son and recently elected congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro. He showed for the first time the 35 stitches on his abdomen, as well as the colostomy bag hanging on his right—it is connected to his intestines and is used for the elimination of fecal matter.

“People want me to attend the debate. I may have a problem with the colostomy bag. I might have to go back to the hospital. Haddad would talk about ministries, but [former president Lula, backing Haddad and arrested since April this year] is the one who would make all the appointments. Under the Constitution, if I die as a result of a knife or a shot fired by a sniper, what happens is, the third place is brought to the race, so we’d be seeing a second round with Haddad and Ciro [Ciro Gomes, who ran for president with the Democratic Labor Party].”