Brazil’s presidential vote tests entrenched political divide
Voters began choosing between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in a race polls described as tight.
Brazilians began voting on Sunday in a closely contested presidential election between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
France 24 International reported that polls showed the candidates tied. The source did not specify which polls or when they were conducted.
Mara Nogueira, a senior lecturer in urban geography at Birkbeck, University of London, said the close contest reflected the consolidation of two political camps. She said many voters were motivated less by support for one candidate than by a desire to keep the other from power.
Nogueira identified the cost of living, religion and social media echo chambers as factors shaping voters’ choices. She said a major banking scandal had so far had limited impact on Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign; the report did not identify the scandal.
Lula returned to office in 2023 after serving two earlier presidential terms. The election is being watched as a test of whether Brazil will follow recent right-wing electoral gains elsewhere in Latin America.
