Jair Bolsonaro’s speech in an interview with Jornal Nacional this Monday (22/8) divided the representatives of the political and ideological wing of the government and the presidential re-election campaign.
While ministers and associated politicians rated the final balance as “positive”, members of the more radical government and campaign complained that the president “did not encourage” militancy.
Behind the scenes, representatives of the political wing noted the fact that the president remained in control in interviews and did not press on “controversial” topics related to the customs agenda.
“The President survived the interview well. He was not rude and avoided traps. The balance was positive,” a campaign strategist closer to Bolsonaro’s political milieu told the column.
More committed allies lamented the president’s defensive stance throughout most of the interview, which the group said undermined the Bolesonaris’ militancy.
“Because the president did not counterattack, there was no moment that was supposed to go viral and infect militancy with excitement,” an ally who was seen as more ideological commented to the column.
There have also been complaints from this wing about Bolsonaro’s lack of stronger attacks on the PT and on former President Lulu, the main opponent of the current head of the Planalto Palace in this year’s elections.
As a result, Bolsonaro went “from zero to zero”. She didn’t encourage the Bosonarian base by keeping herself in check, but she also failed to “pop her bubble” by waving to the centrist electorate.
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