When around 156 million Brazilians are called to the presidential election on Sunday, there will be a number of strange names on the ballot papers alongside the incumbent right-wing head of state Jair Bolsonaro and his challenger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In addition to a Brazilian “Captain America” you also meet “Barack Obama”, “Osama Bin Laden” or “Wolverine”. What is it about the curious candidates?
Brazil faces a landmark election on Sunday that could set the country’s course for years to come. The right-wing head of state Bolsonaro has been criticized for corruption allegations and for his absurd course in the corona pandemic. In addition, during his tenure, the deforestation of the Brazilian rainforest was pushed further and further. His opponent, former left-wing President Lula da Silva, was therefore long considered a favorite. In the last few weeks before the election, however, Bolsonaro was able to catch up in the polls. It’s going to be an exciting decision where every vote will count.
It is therefore all the more curious behind which names you can put your cross on Sunday. Brazil is not only electing a new head of state, but also new governors, senators and members of parliament in the capital and in the individual states. In total, there are over ten thousand candidates up for election, and they seem to have every means of gaining attention. An example is the politician Jésus Lima, of the Brazilian Labor Party. In his election commercial, the 62-year-old can be seen rising from the dead in his living room and slowly climbing out of a coffin. He proclaims: “They tried to kill me, but they couldn’t do it. I’ve risen. I’m back and I’m still fighting!” Lima was the victim of a failed assassination attempt 30 years ago.
Strange election ads have a long tradition in Brazil. In addition to funny costumes, strange name changes and daring dance routines, funny internet videos have been mixed up more and more frequently in recent years. Brazilian electoral law provides that all parties and candidates are entitled to airtime on radio and television. However, the slots are distributed as a percentage of the level of awareness. Many therefore only have a few seconds to draw attention to themselves. With the absurd actions, they hope to get free election advertising in private chats and on social media.
This strategy is by no means hopeless. In 2010, the TV clown Tiririca had so much success with the famous election slogans “Vote Tiririca, it can’t get any worse than now” and “Do you know what a member of parliament does? Me neither, but vote for me and then I’ll tell you”. that he got more votes than any other member of parliament and entered parliament. This year is his fourth consecutive term.
Spurred on by Tiririca’s success, a number of curious election commercials are again circulating ahead of this year’s election. The so-called “Taxi Samurai” made it to the probably best acquaintance. In his video he skilfully shows his martial arts with traditional Far Eastern fighting equipment. The candidate “Quem Quem” wants to win a seat in the Piauí state legislature with a spirited performance of the Queen classic “I Want to Break Free”.
Well-known comic book heroes and video game characters are also involved in these elections. The candidate “Mario Bross” dances in his spot in full costume, “Wolverine” stands in trees and screams in the woods and “Captain America” is in the running twice – in Rio de Janeiro’s election he supports a candidate with the sonorous name “Megaphon -Leticia Pires”, he stands for the state parliament himself.
These special appearances are made possible by a special regulation in Brazilian electoral law. Since it is customary in the South American country to appear in public with one’s first name or even nickname, these are also allowed on the ballot paper. No matter how unusual they may be. In addition to prominent top athletes and pop stars, you will therefore also find “Barack Obama”, “Bill Clinton”, “Elvis” and “Osama Bin Laden” on the ballot papers. The latter has been trying to “blow up” corruption for the Brazilian Social Democrats for years – so far in vain.
Some candidates also include their profession in the campaign name: “Henrique, the biologist” feels qualified for parliament because he is used to working with poisonous snakes, other candidates respond to the names “Police Commissioner Serginho” or “Bira from the driving school “. The self-proclaimed “mountain dwarf” makes the promise: “I’ll be the smallest of your problems.”
However, there are also limits to the curious electoral system. Since animals repeatedly won the votes in previous elections, Brazil has introduced an electronic voting system in which the candidates have to verify themselves beforehand. Out of frustration, voters repeatedly wrote the names of animals from local zoos on the ballot papers.
Sources: Süddeutsche Zeitung, New York Times, Twitter
