Progressive voters and supporters of incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva left reeling after far-right surge
Flávio Bolsonaro is in pole position to win Brazil’s presidential election, after a far-right tsunami propelled him to a shock first-round victory over the incumbent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, leaving progressive voters reeling.
The 45-year-old rightwing candidate received 56.1m votes to Lula’s 53.8m – 47.03% to 45.16% – meaning the 80-year-old leftwinger has a mountain to climb if he is to bounce back in the second round on 25 October. Never, since the return of democracy to Brazil in 1985, has the first-round runner-up managed to turn the game around and win the second ballot.
“Miracles are possible in politics. But I don’t see that happening,” the political scientist Miguel Lago said of Lula’s chances of snapping back. “I don’t see Flávio losing this election now.”
Since nobody is answering you: no, nobody’s lives got better. Economy is in stagflation, crime is is worse than it ever was, no relevant housing projects, no relevant infrastructure investment, education reform, etc. The tax reform will take a decade to come in effect.
Oh but there were a ton of new taxes, including for small goods imported from overseas, which everybody used to buy constantly (shein, temu, etc). Made the post office (public company) lose several billions per year and only increased effective tax revenue by a few hundred million. So the government lost overall and the people lost. At the same time, a new head to the post office and several high paying jobs there were appointed from the government party.
This kind of thing keeps happening so people just want something new and there are no other lefty candidates because Lula never shared power
Thanks, that’s what I was hoping someone would chime in about. Also condilences for the existing and likely future shit show. 😔