Brazil: Mayoral Candidate Attacks Rival with Chair on Live TV

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Facts

  • A mayoral candidate in São Paulo, the largest city in the Western Hemisphere, was rushed to hospital with trauma to his chest and wrist after one of his opponents slammed a metal chair into him during a televised debate on Sunday.[1][2][3]
  • Aides to Pablo Marçal said on Monday that the self-help influencer turned politician was suffering from painful breathing and a fractured rib. Emergency officials also said that one of his fingers was dislocated.[4][5]
  • The attack followed a tense exchange between him and former news anchor José Luiz Datena, who had threatened to slap him in a previous debate after Marçal brought up unconfirmed allegations of sexual misconduct against his rival.[2][3][6][4]
  • Datena admitted making a mistake in the debate, but said he had no regrets and would repeat the gesture under the same circumstances. An investigation is underway as the incident has been logged as a 'bodily injury and insult.'[4][6]
  • Meanwhile, Marçal posted an image comparing the attack with the stabbing of former Brazilian Pres. Jair Bolsonaro in 2018 and the attempted assassination of former US Pres. Donald Trump in July.[1][7]
  • Polls show that Marçal is locked in a three-way tie with the Bolsonaro-endorsed incumbent mayor, Ricardo Nunes, and Pres. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva-endorsed candidate Guilherme Boulos. The first round of voting is scheduled for Oct. 6.[7][8][9]

Sources: [1]FOX News, [2]CNN, [3]Reuters, [4]Associated Press, [5]Washington Post, [6]Daily Mail, [7]New York Times, [8]The Brazilian Report and [9]France 24.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Brasil de Fato. Well-known for his aggressive behavior in debates, Marçal is ultimately responsible for this one descending into chaos. An assault was to be expected when he decided to refer to serious allegations that have already been dismissed — he deliberately provoked another candidate.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Breitbart. Marçal is the victim here, and there should be no room to blame him for anything. If he can be called a thug for overturned convictions related to charges dating back to when he was 18, so should he be able to remind other candidates about their troubled past.

Predictions