Daniel Wolfram
A big night for the far-right in Brazil.
Right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro pulled ahead in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election with 47 percent of the vote. Leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva trailed closely at 45 percent, forcing a runoff on October 25.
“Brazil wants change and I am very happy with the results,” Bolsonaro told reporters in Brasília after tallies came in.
Lula remained defiant despite missing out on a first-round victory. Addressing supporters in São Paulo, the incumbent admitted he expected to win outright. “Starting tomorrow, we begin a new campaign,” he said, according to Reuters.
Trump and Bolsonaro
Flavio Bolsonaro is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The elder Bolsonaro has been dubbed the “Trump of the Tropics” because of his populist anti-establishment style and social media presence that bear a resemblance to the American president.
Like Trump, Bolsonaro has been indicted for trying to stay in power after losing an election.
Bolsonaro is currently imprisoned for the next 27 years after trying to orchestrate a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election.
Struggles lead to frustration at the polls
Daily economic struggles drove voters to the polls to vote for the right-wing parties. Families across Brazil continue to grapple with high inflation, debt, and gang activity. Lula tried to soften the blow by expanding welfare, but those measures failed to win over struggling households.
Political analyst Rafael Favetti noted that “the protest vote foreshadows what is to come in the runoff.”
Still, he warned that “while this should benefit Flavio Bolsonaro now, his growth potential in the second round drops precisely because that support has already been front-loaded.”
A family affair
While Bolsonaro fell short of the 50% required to win the election outright, he is still the clear favorite for the run-off election come October 25.
It was a big night politically all around for the Bolsonaro family. The imprisoned Jair Bolsonaro’s wife, Michelle, was elected senator in the nation’s capital Brasília. This is her first time seeking any kind of political office.
Jair’s two other sons, Carlos and Renan, were likewise elected into Brazilian political office as a senator and congressman.
Even Bolsonaro’s brother and ex-wife got elected into office last night, making it a very big night for the Brazilian right and the Bolsonaro family.
