At the end of a tour of a local cathedral, the Brazilian president was asked about alleged family corruption • In response, he threatened to raise his hand against the journalist

Incident in Brazil: President Jair Bolsonaro was recorded on camera threatening to hit a journalist in the face, after the latter turned to him questioning any alleged family corruption.

Brazilian president writes: "I feel like hitting you" // Photo: Reuters

The president visited a cathedral in the city of Brasilia yesterday (Sunday) when at the end a group of journalists was waiting for him outside the place and began investigating him on the charges. The reporter sought the president's response to deposits allegedly made by a former assistant to Bolsonaro's eldest son who serves in the local Senate, to the account of a candle that allegedly belonged to First Lady, Michelle.

Bolsonaro stood at the exit of the cathedral and said to the reporter, "I feel like hitting you, okay?". His spokesman declined to comment for comment.

Earlier this month, the Brazilian newspaper Crusóe reported that Flavio Bolsonaro's assistant had transferred a sum of 72,000 Brazilian rials, an amount equal to $ 12,800,000, in checks passed through the mother of the family between 2011-2016. Fabricio Quiros is currently under house arrest as part of a corruption investigation into the president's son.

The local press association issued a statement on the incident, saying: "It is a pity that the president is reacting aggressively to a journalistic question. This approach does not contribute to democracy and the freedom of the press incorporated in the constitution."