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France 24
France 24
Comment
François PICARD

Return of the Bolsonaros: Why the far-right surge in Brazilian elections?

Cover image: Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL) reacts after the country's electoral authority said he will face President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the runoff of a presidential election, in Brasilia, Brazil October 4, 2026 © Adriano Machado, Reuters

Do voters care about attempted coups? Brazil's Flavio Bolsonaro is on the cusp of unseating Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the country's October 25 presidential runoff. Bolsonaro's father was jailed over the Brazilian version of the January 6 storming of the US Capitol. Up and down the ballot, other Bolsonaros have been elected in the first round as the far right surges. Is it about incumbent fatigue? Do Brazilians subscribe to Bolsonaro's "God, Homeland, Family" mantra?

And what will it take for the 80-year-old Lula to convince enough of the 21 percent of voters who stayed home last Sunday to come out for the second round? We ask how Brazil is doing on the economy, crime and the rule of law.

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