Olavo de Carvalho in Virginia (USA), Virginia (USA), in a still from the film 'The Garden of Afflictions'. Reprodução
The Brazilian writer and philosopher Olavo de Carvalho, considered a kind of
guru
of Bolsonaroism, died at the age of 74 in a hospital in the US state of Virginia, his family reported Tuesday.
"With great sadness, the family of Professor Olavo de Carvalho communicates the news of his death on the night of January 24, in the Richmond region, Virginia, where he was hospitalized," his relatives said in a message published in the official networks of the writer.
More information
Olavo de Carvalho, the anti-Marxist who whispers in the ear of the Bolsonaro clan
The cause of death was not disclosed, but De Carvalho had been suffering from serious health problems since last year, including a crisis of heart failure and for which he was admitted to a São Paulo hospital twice.
Also, he was recently diagnosed with covid-19.
"The family thanks all the friends for the messages of solidarity and asks for prayers for the professor's soul," completed the note from the relatives of the writer, who leaves behind eight children and 18 grandchildren, in addition to his wife.
Born in Campinas, in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo, De Carvalho gained notoriety for the publication of videos and books with a strong conservative and anti-communist accent, which made him become a kind of "guru" of Brazilian conservatism and the most radical ranks of Bolsonarism. In a message on his social networks, the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, an admirer of the writer, lamented the death and described De Carvalho as "one of the greatest thinkers in the history" of the country. “Olavo was a giant in the fight for freedom and a beacon for millions of Brazilians. His example and his teachings will mark us forever," said the far-right leader, who became president in January 2019.
As Bolsonaro himself stated on several occasions, De Carvalho exerted a strong influence on his political conception and even on the formation of his initial government, since the philosopher came to recommend some of the ministers who passed through the president's cabinet.
However, the relationship between the two began to cool down in 2020, after the writer published harsh criticism and offenses against the government in which he expressed his "disappointment" with Bolsonaro, which would culminate in their breakup shortly after.