Brazil Election: Son of Ex-President Bolsonaro Casts Vote in Tight Race

Right-wing candidate Senator Flavio Bolsonaro cast his vote early Sunday morning, calling for "real change" as Brazil heads to the polls in a hotly contested election. The outcome will determine whether Brazil remains one of Latin America's few leftist nations or shifts toward a right-wing alignment, a trend previously championed by former US President Donald Trump.

Bolsonaro, 45, is competing against veteran leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80. Bolsonaro has pledged to crack down on crime and reduce government spending. He stated outside a polling station in Rio de Janeiro, "Brazil can't stand another four years like this, everyone's life has gotten worse."

Silva, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, has positioned himself as a defender against US interference and democratic backsliding, promising to expand social protections. He is hoping to secure a victory after a surprising second-place finish in the first round of voting to Bolsonaro, the son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Final polls indicated the two candidates were running neck-and-neck. Silva, known for social welfare programs that lifted millions out of poverty, made a significant return to office in 2022 after a corruption scandal led to his imprisonment for over 18 months. Although the charges were later annulled on procedural grounds, they have continued to be a factor.

During his current term, Silva has overseen a reduction in inflation and unemployment and has worked to alleviate hunger. However, voters have expressed concerns about the cost of living and a general sense of insecurity.

Flavio Bolsonaro, an ally of Trump, has stated that if elected, he would hand "Brazil to the Lord Jesus Christ," appealing to voters seeking new leadership. "This is about renewal, enough of the same old thing," said Eduardo Viana, a 67-year-old retiree, adding that while Lula claims to govern for the poor, "people can't even go to the supermarket."

Flavio Bolsonaro presents himself as a more moderate figure than his father, Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for an attempted coup bid following his 2022 election loss. If elected, Flavio Bolsonaro has vowed that his first act would be to free his father.

Following the first-round results, the left-wing campaign organized large rallies with the slogan "Never Again Bolsonaro," referencing the former president's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental policies concerning the Amazon rainforest, and cuts to public programs. Under Silva's administration, deforestation in the Amazon has reached its lowest level in four decades.

Despite recent fires in the Amazon fueled by the El Nino weather phenomenon, climate change has played a minimal role in the campaign. Silva's social policies, particularly the expansion of welfare programs, have become a point of contention, with critics calling for reduced government spending. However, for supporters like Walter dos Santos, 56, from northeastern Brazil, these programs have been crucial. "Even if people call it handouts, for us, they were an enormous help. Because anyone who has ever gone hungry knows not to take these programs for granted," he said.

Silva has adapted his campaign strategy, utilizing video selfies and acquiring his first cellphone after the first-round results. His campaign accused Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, of algorithmic manipulation favoring his opponent, a claim Meta has denied while acknowledging some campaign ads were mistakenly deactivated due to technical errors.

Regardless of the winner, Brazil faces a challenging post-election period. Political analyst Thomas Traumann noted that a left-wing victory could lead to four years with a hostile Congress and impeachment threats. Conversely, a far-right win might result in a "government of retribution" targeting the Supreme Court, which is disliked by the right wing due to its conviction of Jair Bolsonaro. Flavio Bolsonaro has expressed intentions to seek the impeachment of Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the case against his father.

Polling stations are scheduled to close at 5:00 p.m. local time (2000 GMT), with results expected within hours.