Presidential Candidate Romeu Zema Proposes Amnesty for January 8 Convicts and Ban on Online Betting

Presidential candidate Romeu Zema of the Novo party has pledged to grant amnesty or establish a non political court for those convicted in relation to the January 8 attacks. During an interview with Jornal Nacional on Monday, Zema denied that the events constituted a coup attempt, characterizing them instead as acts of vandalism and depredation. He claimed that the convictions were the result of political persecution and criticized the rulings of the Supreme Federal Court. While center leaning reports emphasize his claims of persecution and his denial of a coup, center right coverage focuses on his broader campaign promises regarding economic and social issues.

In a separate campaign event in Rio de Janeiro, Zema advocated for the total prohibition of online betting platforms, comparing betting addiction to cocaine use. He suggested that the state has an obligation to stop the sector, proposing either a total ban or a minimum 50 percent reduction in betting. This position aligns with another candidate, Renan Santos, who also pledged to end online betting in Brazil.

On other policy matters, Zema stated he opposes mandatory vaccination, arguing that families should not be persecuted for choosing not to vaccinate. He also discussed economic goals, including reducing interest rates to 6 percent to save the government 800 billion reais annually and adjusting the minimum wage according to inflation. Regarding his tenure as governor of Minas Gerais, Zema claimed to have left the government with a 5 billion reais surplus, though center leaning reports note that journalists pointed out the state debt as a percentage of GDP had increased during his term. Additionally, Zema proposed the construction of a super prison in the North of the country to house leaders of criminal factions.