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Supporters of Workers' Party presidential candidate Fernando Haddad are participating in a campaign rally in Brasilia, Brazil on Wednesday, October 24, 2018. The Brazilians go to the polls on October 28 for the second round of voting. (Eraldo Peres / Associated Press)
SAO PAULO – The most important Brazilian newspaper said on Wednesday it asked the federal police to investigate the threats to a journalist whose accusations of support for the presidential candidate led to a false campaign. ;information.
The demand is part of an increasingly heated atmosphere before the gap on Sunday between the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who heads opinion polls, and his leftist opponent, Fernando Haddad.
Last week, the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper published an article by Patricia Campos Mello, stating that businessmen linked to the right-wing candidate, Jair Bolsonaro, had paid for spreading false information about the WhatsApp messaging service at benefit from his candidacy. He said that a campaign of explosive messages was also scheduled for this week.
Bolsonaro denied the report. Haddad called on the Brazilian Electoral Tribunal to investigate.
The paper said Wednesday that the Bolsonaro campaign would threaten press freedom. The newspaper said Campos Mello had received numerous threats via WhatsApp and email.
"You should think about your son and his future. For your safety, I would leave Brazil, "said one of the threats contained in a document filed Tuesday by the newspaper asking for an investigation.
The Associated Press called the Bolsonaro campaign to ask for comments on the newspaper's move, but no one answered.
Bolsonaro expressed his antagonism with regard to Folha de S.Paulo, whom he described as "the biggest supplier of fake news in Brazil".
Three days after the release of Mello's report, Bolsonaro told a crowd of supporters in Sao Paulo that "the newspaper would not receive any advertising revenue from his government and promised to eliminate these red bandits from Brazil."
Marcelo Rech, president of the National Newspaper Association of Brazil, criticized the remarks.
"Coming from a presidential candidate, this kind of comment is unfortunate, as it shows his misunderstanding of the role played by journalism," said Rech.
Reporters Without Borders also criticized Bolsonaro.
"The attacks of candidate Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters against Folha de S. Paulo are unacceptable and unworthy of a party that wants to govern the country," said Emmanuel Colombia newspaper, director of the bureau of the organization for Latin America.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, disseminated, rewritten or redistributed.
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