Thousands protest Bolsonaro’s lead in Brazil election

Thousands of demonstrators marched in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday to protest Flavio Bolsonaro’s election lead and voice fears of a far-right government. The student-led rally emerged days after Bolsonaro secured 47 percent of the vote, edging out incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at 45 percent. Neither candidate reached the 50 percent threshold required to win outright, setting up a run-off on October 25.

Crowds moved through downtown Rio carrying signs that read “Never again Bolsonaro” and “No to the father, no to the son.” Other demonstrators held banners demanding “Dictatorship never again” and “Get out Bolsonaro.”

Many attendees said the election results threatened Brazil’s democratic norms. “I’m here because I believe in democracy. Because I’m scared,” said Alice Carneiro, 25, who joined the protest out of concern for her transgender wife under a potential far-right administration.

The political tension stems from the record of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who governed from 2019 to 2023. His term featured public support for Brazil’s past military dictatorship and baseless claims about electronic voting. A court later barred him from holding office for eight years based on those claims. He currently serves a 27-year sentence for plotting to overturn his 2022 defeat. His supporters also stormed government buildings in the capital during the 2023 inauguration transition.

The prospect of a political shift has intensified ahead of the upcoming vote. Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has secured his father’s endorsement and pushed for amnesty that would clear the path for Jair Bolsonaro’s return to politics.

For many voters, the choice comes down to preserving civic freedoms. “I find this rise of the far right and the rise of Bolsonarism in Brazil very, very sad,” said Emmanuel Araujo, 19. He noted that despite not favoring Lula, the election forces a decision between a leader who can be challenged and one who could strip citizens of their voice.