RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In an impromptu speech at a São João Festival in the Brasília Naval Club on Saturday, July 6th, president Jair Bolsonaro again implied that he intends to dispute reelection, and stated that he would deliver a much better country to whoever succeeds him in command of the Palácio do Planalto, in 2026.
“We took over a morally, ethically, and economically shattered country. But God willing, we’ll be able to deliver it much better to whoever succeeds us in 2026,” said Bolsonaro, over resonating shouts of “mito” [“legend”]. The president smiled when he said “2026” and was widely applauded. Elected in 2018, Bolsonaro will end his first term in 2022.
When reviewing his first semester, Bolsonaro said that in six months of government, no corruption charges hovered over his administration on the Planalto. “What seemed doomed to be part of our history was left behind,” said the president from the stage. “I owe this largely to you who believed in a proposal that could truly seek better days for our Brazil. To the people, our absolute loyalty,” the President added.
Last month, when visiting the city of Eldorado in the state of São Paulo, Bolsonaro also suggested that he could run for reelection. On that occasion, he said that “if you do not have a positive political reform and if the people want it, we are here to stay for another four years” and that “up ahead” everyone will vote for him.
By implying that he will run for a new term, Bolsonaro is contradicting his own campaign pledge. In October 2018, in an interview with Globo’s Jornal Nacional, Bolsonaro said he intended to end the possibility of reelection. “It starts with me if I get elected,” he said at the time.