Another Bolsonaro Takes Center Stage
Once shy of the spotlight, former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro has embraced a more active role in conservative politics. What’s her next move?
In the months prior to Brazil’s 2022 presidential election, polls showed Jair Bolsonaro trailing Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by as many as 30 percentage points among women. Worried, his campaign deployed its ace in the hole: Michelle Bolsonaro, the president’s young, photogenic wife, a devout evangelical who until that point had a limited public profile. In July, drawing heavily on Christian themes, she delivered a rousing speech in Rio de Janeiro that brought Bolsonaro, standing behind her, to tears. “His campaign rescued patriotism, it answered the call,” Michelle Bolsonaro...
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