The popular and controversial left-wing politician secures a third term in office. However, Brazil is severely divided. In order to get the country back on track, Lula must above all reconcile.
Left-wing ex-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won the presidential election in Brazil. Lula received 50.84 percent of the votes in the run-off, according to the Brasília electoral office after counting more than 99 percent of the votes. The right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro received 49.16 percent. According to the authorities, reversing the result was mathematically impossible.
Former trade unionist Lula ruled the largest country in Latin America, with 210 million people, from early 2003 to late 2010. He is Brazil’s first democratically elected president to serve a third term. In addition to the head of state, governors were also elected in a dozen states on Sunday.
The atmosphere was very tense in view of the great differences, and the population was very divided. The already fierce election campaign had become increasingly dirty in the final sprint. Brazilians have been inundated with a flood of misinformation, especially on social media and Whatsapp groups. The television debates, in which Lula and Bolsonaro made accusations against each other, seemed downright civilized.
Will Bolsonaro accept the election result?
Many of his followers associate Lula with Brazil’s golden age, when the economy boomed due to high commodity prices and the government lifted millions of people out of abject poverty with the help of social programs. For his opponents, however, Lula is responsible for corruption and nepotism.
There were fears that violence could break out after Lula’s election victory. Bolsonaro had repeatedly cast doubt on the electoral system and indicated that he might not recognize the result. Since the relaxation of gun laws during his tenure, many of his supporters have heavily armed themselves. Some supporters of the incumbent also blatantly called for a military coup. However, experts do not see sufficient support for this in society and the armed forces.
The election in Brazil is also of international importance. As a huge carbon reservoir, the Amazon region plays an important role in the fight against global climate change. In addition, Brazil is a potentially important trading partner with its enormous natural resources, high proportion of green energy and large agricultural economy.
Source: Stern
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