When Jair Bolsonaro addressed his supporters after they elected him as President of Brazil, he began by saying “I first want to thank God.” According to polls and grassroots efforts, he can also thank a large portion of Brazil’s evangelical community who eagerly supported his candidacy.
Evangelicals in Brazil were energized for this election because of many frustrations with Brazil’s government. The nation faced increasing crime, economic decline, and rampant government corruption. In addition, evangelicals reacted strongly to the country’s liberalization on issues related to sexuality. One pastor, Bishop Robson Rodovalho, told Reuters that, “The left went too far,” adding, “Indoctrinating school children on sex revolted many parents. Today we are seeing a boiling over of reaction.”
Bolsonaro skyrocketed to prominence in the election through a promise to promote family values, to restore law and order, and to clean out government corruption. The 27-year congressman ran as a political outsider who was uniquely qualified to deal with Brazil’s problems. He has a history of controversial statements and unpopular stands that bolstered his credibility.
This approach resonated with evangelicals. Pastor Silas Malafaia, who leads 50 Brazilian churches, told the Associated Press that Bolsonaro was the kind of man who should lead the nation’s 210 million residents….
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