Presidential election in Brazil: Lula versus Flávio Bolsonaro

The son of the convicted right-wing ex-president or a fourth term in office from the old left:

That's what the election in South America's largest country is all about.

One, Lula, has shaped Brazilian politics for more than 30 years. He became president for the first time in 2002. He was even imprisoned on corruption charges between 2018 and 2019, but the sentence was later overturned. Today he is 80 years old and somehow has no alternative, at least that's what our correspondent, who has been reporting from South America for more than 30 years, thinks.

Jens Glüsing, SPIEGEL:

»Lula herself, it is said, actually didn't want to compete anymore. He was forced to do so by the workers' party PT. More or less because there is no other candidate capable of defeating Bolsonaro. At least that’s how the left sees it.”

His challenger, Flávio Bolsonaro, is linked to corruption scandals and underworld contacts. He is running as a quasi-representative for his father, Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for an attempted coup.

Flávio Bolsonaro, presidential candidate:

»Because I am perhaps calmer, more relaxed and more level-headed. But here Bolsonaro blood runs through my veins.”

Jens Glüsing, SPIEGEL:

»His only motto. What he keeps repeating is “freedom for Bolsonaro” – freedom for his father. This is also what most of Flávio Bolsonaro's voters care about. You must be content with the son, and you will also choose the son. This son just doesn’t cause much euphoria.”

And the election is about a lot more: After Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia, Brazil would be part of the general shift to the right in Latin America if Bolsonaro wins.

The USA would probably like this too:

Jens Glüsing, SPIEGEL:

»There are repeated allegations that the Americans are actively interfering in the election campaign. There's something to it. Although things are not as open as in other countries. But the Americans have made it clear that they prefer Flávio.«

And Lula is using his opponent's US contacts for his election campaign:

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil:

"There is no place in this country for politicians who fly the national flag by day and bow to the United States at night."

In polls, the left-wing Lula leads slightly ahead of Flávio Bolsonaro. If neither of them gets 50 percent on Sunday, there will be a runoff election at the end of October.