Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro campaigned in Angra dos Reis on Saturday, holding a boat rally on the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro state where he called for unblocking environmental licensing to allow major resort projects along the Costa Verde region.
Bolsonaro, representing the Liberal Party (PL), told supporters that easing environmental restrictions and expanding public-private partnerships are crucial steps to boost local tourism and transform the economic potential of the area.
The Costa Verde is a scenic coastal corridor in southeastern Brazil that encompasses the municipalities of Angra dos Reis, Paraty, and Mangaratiba. Infrastructure investment in the area is essential to keep domestic tourists in Brazil, Bolsonaro said.
He noted that millions of Brazilians currently spend thousands of dollars traveling to distant destinations like Cancun and Indonesia, arguing that Brazil could offer comparable attractions in the Costa Verde if regulatory hurdles are removed.
Resort developments and master plan revisions
To achieve this growth, Bolsonaro advocated for reviewing municipal master plans in direct consultation with local mayors. He said combining revised local plans with streamlined environmental permits and private sector involvement would allow housing developments, large commercial projects, and resorts to proceed quickly and with legal certainty.
Completion of the Angra 3 nuclear power plant
Turning to energy infrastructure, the PL candidate also called for finishing the construction of the Angra 3 nuclear power plant, which sits incomplete at the Central Nuclear Almirante Álvaro Alberto complex in Angra dos Reis.
Brazil faces ongoing energy challenges, Bolsonaro said, pointing out that Angra 3 remains unfinished alongside the operating Angra 1 and Angra 2 reactors. He emphasized that the stalled facility currently consumes nearly 1 billion Brazilian reais from public funds each year without generating electricity.
Bolsonaro proposed partnering with private enterprise to complete the nuclear project. He added that the electorate would recognize his platform as the best option for the country by focusing on future development rather than past disputes.
