Brief
Brazilian candidate adopts ‘Plínio Trump’ alias for congressional race
Plínio Vicentin Jr. joins a list of Brazilian hopefuls using famous alter egos, including a candidate styled after former US president Donald Trump.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Plínio Vicentin Jr. is contesting Brazil's upcoming congressional elections under the nickname “Plínio Trump,” the independent reported on September 30, 2026.
What happened
Vicentin Jr., a helicopter pilot, filed his candidacy with the official electoral authority, choosing the moniker to evoke former US President Donald Trump. He is one of dozens of candidates adopting eccentric or celebrity‑inspired aliases, such as Claudio Henrique dos Anjos running as “Henrique Barack Obama,” a carpenter calling himself “Mick Jagger,” and a state‑assembly hopeful dubbed “Tsunami Grandmother.”
What the reports add
The article notes that Brazil’s proportional‑representation system aggregates votes for these parody candidates onto their parties’ lists, potentially boosting the parties’ seat totals and public funding even if the individuals lose. It traces the practice back to 1959, when a zoo rhinoceros named Cacareco received about 100,000 protest votes, and highlights the 2010 election of circus clown Tiririca, who won a seat with more than 1.3 million votes and served four terms.
What was said
Vicentin Jr. is quoted as saying that using Donald Trump’s name provides a “recognizable right‑wing reference for voters.” Political analysts, cited in the piece, argue that the surge of such unconventional candidates signals “the decay of traditional political leadership.”
How it came about
The tradition of novelty candidacies has grown in Brazil’s electoral culture, with previous high‑profile examples influencing current aspirants. The independent links this trend to broader voter dissatisfaction, a theme Felo previously explored in its coverage of Brazil’s political dynamics.
Key facts
- Plínio Vicentin Jr. is running for Brazil's Congress as "Plínio Trump". (independent.co.uk)
- Brazil's proportional representation system adds votes for parody candidates to party totals. (independent.co.uk)
- The practice of novelty candidacies dates back to a 1959 protest vote for a rhinoceros named Cacareco. (independent.co.uk)
- Clown Tiririca won a congressional seat in 2010 with over 1.3 million votes and served four terms. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Trump ‘lookalike’ is running for Congress in Brazil”
