Representation of military candidates on Facebook: a case study of the congressmen Pazuello and Zucco

Abstract

Brazil has witnessed a significant increase in the number of candidates from security institutions, particularly the Armed Forces, underscoring the growing participation of these actors in the national political arena. This essay analyzes the self-representation of congressmen General Eduardo Pazuello (PL-RJ) and Lieutenant Colonel Luciano Zucco (PL-RS), both candidates for reelection with military backgrounds – in their digital social media interactions. The investigation examines whether the content shared on these platforms aligns with their legislative agendas and parliamentary behavior in the Chamber of Deputies. The essay assesses the congruence between the narrative constructed by these candidates on social media and their actual parliamentary actions, determining whether their projected online image accurately reflects their political practices or constitutes primarily an electoral strategy to attract voters. To this end, the study employs a qualitative analysis of discursive representations, grounded in Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical framework, enabling critical evaluation of the messages disseminated by the candidates in relation to their political stances and decisions. This approach provides a detailed examination of the coherence between the digital presence and legislative performance of these Armed Forces representatives.