Flávio Bolsonaro, son of Jair Bolsonaro, scored a first-round election victory in Brazil, with analysts quoted by The Guardian crediting the strength of the evangelical church and perceptions that President Lula is too old.
Key facts
- Flávio Bolsonaro, son of Jair Bolsonaro, won a first-round election victory in Brazil, according to The Guardian.
- Experts cited by The Guardian point to the strength of the evangelical church as a key driver.
- A perception that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is too old also helped propel the result, experts said.
- The outcome marked a setback for Lula and Brazil's progressives.
- Crestfallen progressives gathered in a leftwing area of Rio after the result.
- Reporting is attributed to The Guardian.
Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of Jair Bolsonaro, secured a first-round election win in Brazil, which The Guardian described as a triumph for the country’s far right.
The outcome represented a setback for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, described by The Guardian as the leader of Brazil’s progressives. As the scale of the result became clear on Sunday night, supporters gathered in one of Rio’s most leftwing areas.
There, according to The Guardian, an adapted football chant rang out as supporters processed the defeat: “Let’s turn this around, Lu-laaaaa!” The chant was repeated several times.
Experts told The Guardian that several factors combined to propel the younger Bolsonaro to victory, among them the strength of Brazil’s evangelical church, which the outlet described as a powerful political and social force.
Analysts quoted by The Guardian also pointed to a widespread perception that Lula is too old, which they said weighed on his campaign.
Full results and further details of the vote were not included in the available reporting.
Why it matters
According to The Guardian, the first-round victory for Flávio Bolsonaro marks a setback for President Lula and Brazil's progressives and points to momentum for the country's far right.