Presidential Hopeful Vows 'Blood' Against Gangs, Attacks Lula and Bolsonaro

Presidential hopeful Renan Santos launched his campaign in São Paulo with a fiery speech, directly attacking President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. Santos, who wore a bulletproof vest during the event at Largo São Francisco, vowed to take a hardline stance against criminal organizations, stating his intention to "exterminate" them and promising to "stain the ground with the blood of these vagabonds" on January 6.

Santos, running for the Missão party, criticized Lula, calling him a "drunk" and accusing the Workers' Party (PT) of "welfareism." He also turned his attention to the right, labeling former President Jair Bolsonaro a "fraud" and a "false messiah." Senator Flávio Bolsonaro was also a target, with Santos alleging connections to the Comando Vermelho (CV) criminal faction and suggesting his office had awarded "militias."

The campaign launch, aimed at a young audience, also saw Santos mock the rallies of Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro, calling Flávio's event a "failure" with "no one" and Lula's rally filled with "zombies." The event concluded with live music to energize supporters, contrasting sharply with the violent rhetoric Santos employed.