Jair Bolsonaro: "Gambling is not welcomed in Brazil"

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said that gambling 'is not welcomed in Brazil' and that he will veto the measure, although he is convinced that his veto will be overridden by Congress.

"They are preparing, it depends on the strength of each person within the Parliament, that is an independent entity that has the power to approve the project. They, as far as I know, are convinced that after the veto, they have the power to override it", said the president in an interview with Radio Viva FM.

According to Bolsonaro, the government's position on an eventual approval in Congress of a bill to regulate gambling and other bets is aimed at rejecting the proposal.

It is important to remember that in December, the House of Representatives approved an urgency request to review the text, but it has not advanced so far, and the evangelical parliamentarians have manifested their opposition to the project since they do not accept to negotiate an agreement.

During an interview with Radio Viva FM, from Espírito Santo, Bolsonaro said that there is a 'very strong internal battle in Parliament', and that a group of deputies and senators are already articulating an eventual counterattack to the presidential veto.

'It's a sign that if I veto the bill here - as I said I would - the veto would be overridden there (in Congress). 'It's a very strong internal battle in Parliament,' the president said. 'They are preparing, it depends on the strength of each one within the Parliament, which is an independent power, to approve the bill. They, from what I understand, have the conviction that after the veto, they have the power to override it,' he continued.

According to Bolsonaro, gambling "is not welcomed in Brazil. It is a door that if it is opened, we do not know what can happen afterward. Our position is only one: veto the project", he stated.