Brazilian students mobilise against far right presidential bid

Thousands of students took to the streets of central Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, warning that Brazil’s democracy, national sovereignty and minority rights could be threatened if far right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro wins the presidency in the upcoming election runoff.

The demonstration followed Sunday’s first round of voting, in which Bolsonaro secured more votes than incumbent left wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Neither candidate obtained the required 50 per cent majority, setting up a closely watched contest scheduled for Oct. 25.

Wearing red clothing and carrying placards, demonstrators marched between two historic squares, chanting slogans in support of Lula and calling on voters to prevent a Bolsonaro victory.

“We’re fighting for Brazil, not for Lula,” said Talita Amaral, a 19 year old environmental science student. She wore Brazil’s yellow and green football jersey, a symbol often associated with Bolsonaro supporters, explaining that she wanted to reclaim the national colours.

Amaral urged opponents of the far right to remain active rather than become discouraged by the election results. She said protesters needed to occupy public spaces, communicate through WhatsApp groups and persuade undecided voters.

Bolsonaro enters the runoff with a numerical advantage, having received about 2 million more votes than Lula in the first round. Candidates finishing third, fourth and fifth, all from the right of the political spectrum, collectively secured another 6 million votes, potentially strengthening Bolsonaro’s position.

The candidate, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, also faces political controversy. His father is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup. Flávio Bolsonaro is under investigation over alleged corruption, money laundering and tax evasion linked to the failed Banco Master.

Protesters raised concerns about those allegations and recalled the previous administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, during which Brazil recorded about 700,000 deaths. Placards included messages declaring that Brazil was not “anyone’s backyard” and rejecting candidates accused of selling out the country.

Foreign policy was another central concern. Many demonstrators fear a Bolsonaro presidency would bring Brazil closer to the United States under President Donald Trump, whose administration imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian goods last year and sanctioned a Brazilian Supreme Court justice over the prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro.

“If Bolsonaro wins, Brazil will become a colony of the United States,” said João Victor Vieira, a 20 year old literature student.

Vieira also warned that the candidate’s political movement threatened people of colour, women and LGBTQ+ communities, pointing to his father’s record of homophobic remarks.

Although Sunday’s results initially left him discouraged, Vieira said the turnout had renewed his optimism.

“This protest shows that social movements are still very much alive,” he said. “We will resist.”

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  Brazil