Flavio Bolsonaro praises Bukele security model

Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro praised El Salvador's security model on Sunday after meeting the Central American country's security minister, Gustavo Villatoro, in Sao Paulo.

Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, is focusing on crime and security less than two months before Brazil's general election, in which he is set to face President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro told reporters that the meeting with Villatoro inspired him to pursue what he called a firm plan to defend citizens and victims rather than criminals. He also said Brazil should create more than half a million additional prison places.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has high approval ratings at home after reducing the homicide rate to historic lows during a clampdown on gangs and crime. His administration has also faced criticism from human rights groups over a state of emergency under which nearly 100,000 people accused of being gang members or accomplices have been detained without warrants.

Villatoro is in Sao Paulo to take part on Monday in a security forum organized by an industry group. Brazil's first-round vote is scheduled for October 4, and polls show Lula with a slight lead over Bolsonaro.