The stabbing at a campaign rally of the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil’s presidential election will likely have serious if for now unpredictable implications for the rest of the race. These will likely restart soon once the initial shock of Thursday’s attack subsides, but rivals now face a dilemma. Boost to chancesAnother of Bolsonaro’s sons on leaving the hospital bragged that the attack meant his father would now be elected on the first round. What is already clear is the attempt on Bolsonaro’s life will inject a further dose of venom into a race he worked assiduously to polarise for political advantage. The challenge now is for Brazil’s genuine democrats of all stripes to respond in time to this new, disturbing political landscape.

Source: The Irish Times September 07, 2018 12:56 UTC