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While midterm elections for the United States began to wrap up in the second week of November, Brazil’s general elections for 2022 concluded in October with incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro being defeated by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was himself president of Brazil from 2003 to 2010. As a result of Bolsonaro’s presidency, there was a particular concern over environmental issues relating to the Amazon rainforest as elections approached.
Bolsonaro’s compaign struggled to gain vast support, in part because of his approach to the ongoing pandemic, as well as his refusal to continue protections of both the Amazon rainforest and its Indigenous peoples. In the lead-up to elections, his opponent, Lula, made promises to increase protections for the Amazon, as well as to assist Brazilians struggling with food insecurity and to battle the rapid increase in inflation, according to a TIME magazine article about Lula’s election.
Following the announcement of the results, which declared Lula’s victory, Bolsonaro remained silent for about two days, sparking both domestic and international concerns as to whether he would accept his defeat and step down. Protests broke out across the country in the meantime, with truckers in support of Bolsonaro blocking major highways and making claims that the election had been stolen. According to an NPR piece on Bolsonaro breaking his silence, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the removal of the blockades, but some protesters still remained.
The United States has strong ties to Brazil, particularly through trade, and the impact of the global pandemic is mirrored in both countries as seen in high death tolls and inflation rates, according to the BBC. Democracy and its future are also on the minds of both nations’ citizens. As Brazilian voters demonstrated concern about environmental protections, it will be important to watch Lula’s coming presidency to see how well his promises hold up.
SOURCES: TIME Magazine, NPR, BBC
How Lula Won the Most Crucial Election in Brazil for Decades (TIME magazine)
Brazil’s president has finally broken his silence about the presidential election : NPR
Brazil election: Why it matters so much to the US – BBC News ]
Photo credit: Reuters
Political signs depicting the candidates Jair Bolsonaro (Left) and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Right)
IMAGE CREDIT: Adriano Machado (Reuters) (Twitter Account) & (Website), sourced from an Editorial in the Nature journal (25 October 2022)
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