Attribution: Agência Senado
Name? Flávio Bolsonaro
Westphalian identity? Brazilian
Age? 45
Why is he in the news? President Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro faced each other in Sunday’s Brazilian election. Flávio Bolsonaro, the far-right senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, took the lead with 47% of the vote to Lula’s 45%. Despite coming out on top, Bolsonaro failed to secure the required 50% majority, meaning a runoff election will take place later this month.
Why do we care? Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party has won 19 of the 54 Senate seats up for election and 121 of 513 Chamber seats, the most for any party since the 1988 constitution. Bolsonaro would therefore have a large legislative base if he wins, though not a majority. The result points to a rightward shift in Latin America’s largest economy, and a Bolsonaro victory would push the region further to the right.
Why should you care? Brazil holds about 60% of the Amazon, a rainforest vital to the global climate where deforestation under Lula has fallen by 45%, the lowest level in more than a decade. Bolsonaro has previously advocated for loosening environmental laws, which means that his victory could reverse what Lula’s administration achieved.
Who else cares? U.S. President Donald Trump said last week he was following the election “very closely”, and although he has not formally endorsed Bolsonaro, he hosted him at the White House in May and praised him publicly. Bolsonaro pledged afterwards that Brazil would join Trump’s Shield of the Americas, a regional initiative, if he wins.
Any further comments? Four years ago, Lula topped the first round against his father Jair Bolsonaro and went on to win the runoff 50.9% to 49.1%, Brazil’s closest presidential result to date. Bolsonaro’s first-round lead of under three points is smaller than the five-point lead Lula held then, so the runoff starts from a tighter position.