The Guardian view on Lula v the Bolsonaros: the decision of Brazilian voters will affect us all
Sunday’s general election is too close to call, with the incumbent president facing the son of the man who attempted a coup against him
TL;DR
- The election presents a clear choice between President Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
- Jair Bolsonaro is serving a sentence for plotting a coup after losing the previous election.
- Flávio Bolsonaro is campaigning as a less extreme version of his father but remains ideologically aligned.
- The election is characterized by voter dissatisfaction with both main candidates.
- Initial predictions favored Lula, but a financial scandal involving Flávio Bolsonaro and a supreme court judge has complicated the race.
- The Bolsonaros have a history of undermining trust in Brazil's electronic voting system.
- Flávio Bolsonaro has proposed privatization, spending cuts, and packing the supreme court with conservative judges.
- A Bolsonaro victory could embolden aggressive US foreign policy and lead to increased deforestation and resource extraction in the Amazon.
- Lula's return to power saw a decrease in Amazon deforestation and a focus on protecting Indigenous lands.