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Populist rulers face a dilemma. Since they embody “the folks” and notice “the need of the folks,” they can not lose elections. The folks can not vote towards itself. My Unbiased Overview article on “The Impossibility of Populism” defined this in additional particulars. However here’s a present illustration.
Jair Bolsonaro, the Brazilian president, faces the identical dilemma as Donald Trump did: there’s a good likelihood that he’ll lose the forthcoming presidential election in October. So what does he do? One thing just like what Trump did in each 2016 and 2020: he warns his followers prematurely that if he loses, it’ll imply that the election was rigged. The Economist explains (“Would possibly Jair Bolsonaro Attempt to Steal Brazil’s Election?” July 14, 2022):
[Mr. Bolsonaro] can be sowing doubt in regards to the electoral course of. He tells supporters he can solely be defeated if the competition is rigged. This means he could dispute the outcome if he loses. …
On July seventh Mr Bolsonaro insinuated that Mr Fachin [the president of the electoral court] “already is aware of” the end result of the election. He peddles such twaddle whereas insisting that Brazil’s electronic-voting system is vulnerable to fraud. The system has been utilized in Brazil since 1996 with no proof of irregularities. …
His opponents concern that if the vote is shut, he could declare he was robbed of victory and attempt to cling on by foul means.
Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro throughout a Labor Day protest in Natal. Could 2, 2022, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil Credit score: Jose Aldenir/Thenews2 (Foto: Jose Aldenir/TheNews2/Deposit Photographs)
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