Progressive voters and supporters of incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva left reeling after far-right surge
Flávio Bolsonaro is in pole position to win Brazil’s presidential election, after a far-right tsunami propelled him to a shock first-round victory over the incumbent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, leaving progressive voters reeling.
The 45-year-old rightwing candidate received 56.1m votes to Lula’s 53.8m – 47.03% to 45.16% – meaning the 80-year-old leftwinger has a mountain to climb if he is to bounce back in the second round on 25 October. Never, since the return of democracy to Brazil in 1985, has the first-round runner-up managed to turn the game around and win the second ballot.
“Miracles are possible in politics. But I don’t see that happening,” the political scientist Miguel Lago said of Lula’s chances of snapping back. “I don’t see Flávio losing this election now.”
Presidentialism is a dead-end strand of democracy. Progressives living in such systems everywhere should be pushing to reform it to parliamentarianism. No one election should have such cosmic level effects.
Absolutely not the case. Maybe where you are and in the so-called first world. Parlamentarianism would be a huge boon for the right in Brasil. Hell, things have progressively sucked since the 2016 coup cause the parliment has increased its powers a fuck ton
My perspective is the European periphery (Greece) and Canada. I don’t know in particular what the Brazilian parliament is doing. I suspect (feel free to correct me) that within a presidential system, where parliament can be weaponized against a personalist presidency, sure it can become a vehicle for irresponsible brinksmanship, just like in the US. But the moment a parliament becomes itself responsible for governing, when things cannot be blamed on some singular President, when governments can lose the confidence of the parliament and elections can be triggered things change and parliaments have to start taking shit seriously.
That said, Parliamentarianism is not the perfect democratic system, it’s just better than Presidentialism. It is also not a guarantee against fascism (cf Hungary, Italy), it is just harder to subvert them. It is no coincidence that democracies that slide to authoritarianism tend to reform themselves into presidential systems, like Turkey. And of course, the real question is what is even better than both, how do we perfect democracy beyond 19th century political technologies, but that’s a different discussion.
A lot of voters didn’t bother voting in the first round, because they knew that it would come down to a second. Brazil has like 20 or so parties, and one has to get over 50% of the votes to win. Just gotta wait for the second round, no point in getting worked up about this one, everyone knew it was going to come down to these two.
Dear Brazil, why didn’t you learn from the USA’s mistakes?
In here, US subverts everything with algorithmic manipulation, voters don’t do any reality checks. Meta (IG, WA & FB) is the main source of information and communication.
Well that’s not good
And if you wanna know more about Flávio Bolsonaro, with whom he’s hanging out, watch this, it’s dubbed, but it’s worth watching.
Vote.
Voting is mandatory in Brazil
What’s the penalty if you don’t?
small fee
A very small fine, less than a dollar (R$3.51).
First two offenses: Small fine (~$1).
Third offense (Usually, this penalty lasts 1 year):
- Barred from getting or renewing a passport or ID.
- Barred from taking public-sector jobs or positions.
- Barred from taking out loans from public banks or enrolling in public universities.
Fourth+ offense: Voting rights can be terminated, and the penalties above become permanent.
Apparently 20% abstained.
And yet 33M of Brazilians skipped the elections…
That’s what Lula’s voters think about this guy
Hopefully the people of Brazil can stand up and fight back against this sad situation. You are not alone in this BS we can and will overcome this.
Probably won’t. Right wing dumbfuckery is a world wide trend.
Idiocracy was a documentary
Its insane because brazillians are so online and i know so many nice brazillians who im sure voted lula even if hes still corrupt and not a good candidate but much better than Bolsonaro. Its just insane to see this literal clown get elected.
Knows the machines
They are heading straight for environmental collapse and famine. I just hope neighboring countries will close all borders when it happens. Have what you voted for.
I hope you have the day you deserve
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The “I love Bolsonaro” copypasta hits different when the Bolsonaro is kinda hot tho.
It doesn’t excuse his dogshit politics, but c’mon now… Daddy, quack quack.
