Brazil's Patron Saint Pulled Into Latest Election Scrap
The false claim has fueled official statements, court orders and a split in polling, with Lula leading Bolsonaro 39% to 34% in the latest survey.
- A fake news story linking Flávio Bolsonaro to a proposal stripping Our Lady of Aparecida of her status as Brazil's patron saint has sparked intense controversy during the final stretch of the electoral campaign.
- Left-Wing social media users amplified an abandoned 2007 bill initially proposed by a Bolsonaro-aligned lawmaker to demote the patron saint, distorting a real legislative attempt from nearly 20 years ago.
- Polling data indicates 48 percent of Catholics intend to vote for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, while 46 percent of evangelicals support Bolsonaro, deepening the religious divide in the polarized nation.
- Conflicting judicial rulings from the Supreme Court regarding false content removal created widespread confusion; Bolsonaro confirmed his participation in a televised debate organized by Globo on Thursday.
- Brazilians will cast ballots on Sunday for the first round of voting; if no candidate secures an outright majority, a second round will be held on October 25.
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11 Articles
The patron saint of Brazil found herself at the heart of a lively controversy a few days before the Brazilian presidential election.
Brazil's patron saint pulled into latest election scrap
Only a tiny portion of Brazilians remain undecided ahead of a first-round election on Sunday in the deeply polarized nation. In recent days, leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has referred to rumors on social media claiming that his rival Flavio Bolsonaro planned to strip the country's beloved patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida, of her title if elected. "As long as I am president... no one is going to disrespect Our Lady of Aparecida,"…
Brasilia. A controversy over the patron virgin of Brazil stirs up the campaign six days after the elections, with President Luiz Inácio Lula and his rival, the ultra-rightist Flávio Bolsonaro, in dispute over religious voters in one of the most Christian countries in the world.
Lula, Bolsonaro, the Catholic bishops and the Supreme enter into a controversy encouraged by the left and which can influence an extremely contentious election
Spanish newspaper El País highlighted as 'left-fed controversy' even involved leaders of the Catholic Church in the country and the Supreme Court, in a controversy "which can influence an extremely high election".
A controversy between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro with Nossa Senhora Aparecida as the central protagonist enhances the importance of religious voting.
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