Serj Tankian , of System of a Down , is known for his political lyrics and activism in favor of social justice, even offstage. In a recent interview, the singer criticized the Brazilian government and mentioned Jair Bolsonaro .
When questioned by Veja magazine about the rise of far-right populist leaders around the world, Tankian compared the Brazilian president to other politicians. “It’s a dangerous game. The rise of the far-right in countries like Hungary, with Viktor Orban, or in the cases of Bolsonaro in Brazil and Trump in the United States, was a reaction to the system. But that’s the wrong solution,” he opined. “We don’t have time for dictators. We don’t have time for idiots leading us. The new generation won’t live with that for much longer.”
Speaking about the pandemic situation, the vocalist made new comparisons between Bolsonaro and Trump and criticized their denialism. “Trump did a horrible job responding to Covid-19, and so did Bolsonaro,” Tankian continued. “I think Brazil needs an adult in charge, not someone who defies science. I hope you all get vaccinated as soon as possible. I myself have already been vaccinated. Unfortunately, bad leaders make it harder to overcome the pandemic.”
The singer recently released the solo EP Elasticity , featuring songs that were originally composed for a new System of a Down album, but were not accepted by the band .
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