This Saturday, October 29, on the eve of the second round of the presidential election being held in Brazil, a heated altercation took place in the streets of São Paulo.
The brawl, filmed and broadcast on social networks, shows Carla Zambelli, a federal deputy close to the outgoing far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, attacking a left-wing activist, a supporter of Lula.
On the footage, we see the 42-year-old woman pointing her gun at the opponent, a black man named Luan Araujo, 32 years old.
Shots were then heard.
According to the deputy, who justified herself at the microphone of CNN Brazil a few minutes later, the altercation took place after the supporter of Lula, icon of the Brazilian left in the race for the presidential election against Jair Bolsonaro, laughed at her.
The man would have assured her that he would not vote for the latter, and would have insulted her.
“Several men approached.
Then they pushed me, they even hurt me.
When he pushed me, I fell, I ran after him, I said I was going to call the police, that he had to stay here to wait for the police to arrive (…) Then he ran away. ran away, so I pulled out my gun and ran after him,” she explained.
And to add: "I asked him to stop, he was scared and stopped at the
The videos that captured the altercation, however, contradict the MP's version of events.
On several sequences, we see him stumble and fall to the ground, while the Lula activist goes in another direction.
The government representative then runs towards the supporter on the left, followed by another man carrying a gun.
On another excerpt, the deputy enters a bar to pursue the man.
Luan Araujo has announced that he will file a complaint for threats and racism.
pro-gun activist
Images which come just a few hours before the second round of the presidential election and which could cost outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro dearly, even though the first round gave victory to Lula, leader of the Workers' Party (PT).
By taking out her weapon, the Bolsonarist federal deputy violated a measure put in place by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).
This prohibits the carrying of weapons on election days, as well as during the 24 hours preceding and following polling day.
A rule imposed to avoid overflows and ensure the safety of the inhabitants, in a particularly tense political context.