President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil stated on Monday that he will respect the outcome of an election in October, regardless of the outcome, so long as the voting is "clean and transparent."

In an interview with TV Globo's Jornal Nacional, the evening newscast with the greatest audience in Brazil, the far-right politician asserted, without evidence, that there had been electoral fraud in Brazil in the past.

Bolsonaro did not mention the electronic voting system, which he has fiercely criticized for months because they are susceptible to manipulation. However, the former army captain stated that the military should play a role in determining the vote's transparency.

Polls indicate that Bolsonaro trails his leftist opponent, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who presided over Brazil from 2003 to 2010 while the economy thrived.

Bolsonaro stated that he had inherited a country in a precarious economic situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war but had prevailed.

Among his accomplishments, he cited the increase in monthly welfare payments for low-income families, which he stated will assist 20 million Brazilians. According to recent polls, this handout has increased his popularity and narrowed Lula's lead.

Bolsonaro refuted claims that deforestation in the Amazon has increased under his administration because he has rolled back enforcement tactics.

Instead, he said that the government's environmental protection agency, Ibama, had committed abuses by burning heavy equipment often confiscated from illegal gold miners in the rainforest.

Bolsonaro stated that the Amazon in Brazil was larger than Western Europe and that the country had maintained 66% of its green regions. "Brazil does not merit this type of criticism. We will attempt to enhance (Brazil's reputation overseas) "he stated.

Concerns regarding his inability to halt deforestation have prompted European Union opposition to ratifying a free trade agreement with the South American bloc Mercosur.

Bolsonaro stated that the EU's desire to expedite the conclusion of the trade accord is now a result of supply issues caused by the conflict in Ukraine.