Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro says he sees three possibilities for his future: re-election in 2022, death or prison.
According to most opinion polls, the far-right leader who models himself on his hero Donald Trump is trailing behind former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the race for the presidency.
"I have three alternatives for my future: being arrested, killed or victory," he told evangelical leaders.” Bolsonaro, 66, later added that the first option is out of question. "No man on Earth will threaten me," he said.
The former military officer was nearly killed after being stabbed in the abdomen during the 2018 presidential campaign - an injury that caused intestinal damage and serious internal bleeding.
Many Brazilians have turned against Bolsonaro due to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and corruption claims over his government's purchase of vaccines.
Brazil has the world's second-highest death toll from the virus, with over 20.7 million infections and over 578,400 deaths.
Nevertheless, Bolsonaro has frequently downplayed the virus and resisted lockdowns and masks. In March, he told Brazilians to stop "whining" and move on from the disease.
Bolsonaro, who is looking to serve a second term, has questioned the fairness of Brazil's electronic voting system and hinted he will not accept the results of next year's contest.
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