Never Again Bolsonaro: Thousands March In Rio Ahead Of Brazil Runoff

Thousands of students marched through central Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday against the prospect of Flávio Bolsonaro winning Brazil’s presidency, days after the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro finished ahead of incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the first round of the election.

The demonstrators walked from Candelária to Cinelândia, carrying signs about democracy, sovereignty and social rights and chanting in support of Lula. The protest came as the two candidates prepared for the October 25 runoff, after neither secured the more than 50 per cent of valid votes required to win outright.

Official results from Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court show Flávio Bolsonaro received 47.03 per cent of valid votes, or about 56.1 million votes, while Lula secured 45.16 per cent, or about 53.9 million.

The first-round result has forced both campaigns to reset their strategies. Flávio has moved to build a broader conservative coalition, receiving support from former Goiás governor Ronaldo Caiado and the agricultural caucus in Congress. He has also promoted tougher criminal penalties and plans to draw on security policies in Goiás and São Paulo.

Lula, meanwhile, has increased his focus on social media and direct voter outreach as his campaign attempts to attract voters who backed other candidates in the first round.

For protesters in Rio, however, the election is also about the Bolsonaro family's political legacy. Demonstrators referred to former president Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, his conviction over an attempt to overturn the 2022 election result, and concerns over Flávio Bolsonaro's political plans. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted in the coup case.

Flávio is also facing scrutiny over alleged links to the Banco Master investigation, which has become an issue in the campaign. He has denied wrongdoing, while Brazilian media reports have examined his contacts with the bank's former owner and other political figures linked to the case.

Another major issue is Brazil's relationship with the United States. Flávio has been closely associated with Donald Trump politically, while Lula has criticised US pressure on Brazil, including tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. The question of national sovereignty and foreign influence has therefore become part of the runoff debate.