Controversies involving Jair Bolsonaro
Among the main controversies involving Jair Bolsonaro are his right-wing populist position, his criticism of the political left, his classification of torture as a legitimate practice, his opposition to LGBT rights and several other questionable statements, which have led to 30 calls for his impeachment and three court convictions. Several international organizations consider that his authoritarian tendencies threaten to cause irreparable harm to civil society, the press, Afro-Brazilians, indigenous people and critics of the government. Bolsonaro also has a hostile relationship with the press and has been accused of proliferating fake news.
Although his statements are classified on the far-right of the political perspective, Bolsonaro rejects such categorization. On March 12, 1999, he spoke in the Chamber of Deputies to praise Federal Deputy Luiza Erundina, a member of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) and recognized as a left-wing figure. After the 2002 elections, he announced his vote for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in the second round, although he had supported Ciro Gomes (then affiliated to the PPS) in the first round.
His statements have been described as hate speech, homophobic, misogynistic, sexist, racist and anti-refugee. In August 2018, the British magazine The Economist described him as a "radical", a "religious nationalist", a "right-wing demagogue", an "apologist for dictators" and a "threat to democracy".
Bolsonaro often defends Brazil's military dictatorship. During an argument with demonstrators in December 2008, he declared that "the mistake of the dictatorship was to torture and not to kill." He has been criticized by the media, politicians and the Torture Never Again group, especially after he posted a poster on his office door telling relatives of those who disappeared during the military dictatorship that "those who look for bones are dogs". During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bolsonaro spread disinformation and made statements contrary to the recommendations of health agencies, besides carrying out several public activities.