In Brazil’s presidential election, left-wing ex-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (77) and right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro (67) fought a neck-and-neck race after partial results. After counting more than 60 percent of polling stations, Bolsonaro received 50.08 percent of the vote on Sunday, his challenger Lula 49.92 percent. Lula had won the first round on October 2 – albeit much narrower than expected after the polls. After that, the race was considered fully open again.
For months, the election campaign was marked by serious mutual accusations and false information disseminated on the Internet. Both candidates fought to the end for every vote. President Bolsonaro repeatedly questioned the electoral system and indicated he might not recognize the result. Some of his supporters blatantly called for a military coup.
The elections have major implications beyond Brazil’s borders. As a huge carbon reservoir, the Amazon plays an important role in the fight against global climate change. Given the tense energy and food markets caused by the war in Ukraine, Brazil, with its vast natural resources, is also an important trading partner.
Voter Obstruction – Election Surveillance Steps In
During the presidential elections, checkpoints set up by the traffic police caused unrest, making it difficult to get to the polling stations. These roadblock checks delayed the onward journey of buses carrying voters on Sunday, Supreme Court president Alexandre de Moraes said. However, an order has now been placed to remove these barriers, and vehicles have been checked for possible violations of the traffic rules.
The tightened traffic controls took place in the northeast of the country, where the left-wing opposition candidate Lula da Silva has a lot of support. Leaders of Lula’s Labor Party (PT) circulated online videos of voter buses stopping at checkpoints. “What is accepted in the northeast is unacceptable,” said the ex-president, who was slightly ahead of right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro before the second round in the polls.
The chief election monitor, Moraes, later assured that the police checks had only resulted in a “delay” in the vote. None of the buses were ordered by the police to turn around and go back to their place of origin. The right to vote has not been violated. Moraes therefore also refused to extend the opening hours of the polling stations. (SDA/AFP/kes)