Brazil

When Ariel Nery left the pews of her conservative evangelical megachurch for the floor cushions and hammocks of the progressive Igreja Mangue church four ...

"Bolsonaro indisputably defends the most conservative ideals along with the conservative evangelical Christian population," said Renato Antunes, 41, a traditional Baptist pastor and city councilman in the northeastern city of Recife. "The gates of Hell will not prevail over our family and the Brazilian church." "We receive huge numbers of people in the church who are going to vote for Lula, but don't admit it ... The two were running neck-and-neck among evangelical voters until a few months ago, according to pollster Datafolha. Political polarization is contributing to the roughly 20% of evangelical Brazilians who called themselves "unchurched" in the last census, according to Rodolfo Capler, a Baptist pastor and researcher at the Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo. Bolsonaro has peppered his public schedule with near daily events alongside religious leaders.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has been waging an all-out campaign to shore up the crucial evangelical vote ahead of Oct. 2 elections.

“It is a brand of lying, of cynicism to deceive the people. It should guarantee the operation and freedom of however many churches people want to create,” he said. “And the doors of hell will not prevail against our family, the Brazilian church or our Brazil.” One video showed her repeating “glory to God,” speaking in tongues and hopping joyfully after the Senate approved his evangelical Supreme Court appointee. She was then attacked by an evangelical couple who entered her temple and hit her over the head with a Bible, and died of a heart attack not long after. “For the first time, I see our country very divided with regard to religions, and I think that really inflates intolerance.” 15 that evangelicals “woke up to fact it’s impossible to be Christian and from the left.” Today just a small minority practices the religions in Brazil, and in recent years there have been increased reports of incidents of religious intolerance targeting them, particularly at the hands of members of Pentecostal and neo-Pentecostal churches. “This discourse that the election will be a religious war is theirs,” Santini said. Bolsonaro is waging an all-out campaign to shore up the crucial evangelical vote that involves keyboard crusaders and the first lady ahead of Oct. Viana was caught in the crossfire of a religiously tinged political attack on da Silva, who leads all polls against the incumbent. “I expected this from an ordinary evangelical person, but not from a person like the first lady.”

Since throwing off the dictatorship in 1985, Latin America's largest country has enjoyed relative calm during its elections. This year, many say, ...

“Bolsonaro is the first one to openly use the discourse of violence against his opponent.” “The whole thing has no logic, and there was no such thing before. Authorities identified the assailant as Adélio Bispo de Oliveira, a former member of the Socialism and Liberty Party who claimed he was on “a mission from God.” A court ruled that he was mentally ill and couldn’t be held responsible for his actions. “They thought he was a bolsonarista,” he said. As a congressman, he suggested the military should have killed more people during the dictatorship, and said only a “civil war” would bring true change to Brazil. Of course I am,” he said. But he argued that the violence from the right-wing bolsonaristas and Lula’s petistas are different. Fabiano dos Santos, 42, a convenience store worker in São Paulo, said he will vote for Lula as he has always done. Four years ago, he urged his followers to “shoot the ‘petralhada,’ ” a slur for Workers’ Party supporters. Bolsonaro initially refused to condemn Arruda’s killing, saying he would wait for the investigation to establish a motive. A man was shot inside an evangelical church in Goiânia last month after he expressed disagreement over the distribution of pamphlets urging churchgoers not to vote for leftist parties. About half of those believe violence is “very justified.” There’s little variation between Lula and Bolsonaro supporters.

Bolsonaro is waging an all-out campaign to shore up the crucial evangelical vote that involves keyboard crusaders and the first lady ahead of Oct. 2 ...

“It is a brand of lying, of cynicism to deceive the people. “And the doors of hell will not prevail against our family, the Brazilian church or our Brazil.” It should guarantee the operation and freedom of however many churches people want to create,” he said. One video showed her repeating “glory to God,” speaking in tongues and hopping joyfully after the Senate approved his evangelical Supreme Court appointee. She was then attacked by an evangelical couple who entered her temple and hit her over the head with a Bible, and died of a heart attack not long after. “For the first time, I see our country very divided with regard to religions, and I think that really inflates intolerance.” 15 that evangelicals “woke up to fact it’s impossible to be Christian and from the left.” Today just a small minority practices the religions in Brazil, and in recent years there have been increased reports of incidents of religious intolerance targeting them, particularly at the hands of members of Pentecostal and neo-Pentecostal churches. One video shared widely in evangelical circles early this year was edited so he appeared to say the devil was speaking to him and taking control. Bolsonaro is waging an all-out campaign to shore up the crucial evangelical vote that involves keyboard crusaders and the first lady ahead of Oct. Viana was caught in the crossfire of a religiously tinged political attack on da Silva, who leads all polls against the incumbent. “I expected this from an ordinary evangelical person, but not from a person like the first lady.”

The organisers seek to assess contemporary Arab culture in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Colombia. "The Latin American Arab phenomenon is special," ...

If it is important for the people of Latin America to know more about Arab culture, the reverse is also true, and Arabs in the Middle East should seek to learn more about Latin America. I hope that people shed more light on this project and Arab culture across Latin America." According to Professor Safa Jubran of São Paulo University, the project is unprecedented. Many topics are addressed by the project in research, translation and events, as well as the education of children through online tools. "Their names are recorded in all areas of Latin American life," he said. The project analyses the main structures for promoting contemporary Arab culture in the five target countries, but there are already plans for expansion to look at other countries as well. The event was attended by the Director of UNESCO and representatives from across Latin America. He stressed the important role played by Arabs and Palestinians in Latin America. Today, millions of Latin Americans of Arab descent are proud of their ancestry." The organisers seek to assess contemporary Arab culture in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Colombia. "The Latin American Arab phenomenon is special," explained Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber. Those across Latin America are an example of a sizeable group of immigrants who have integrated successfully into the host cultures.

Extreme content is spreading rapidly on the country's social networks, sparking fears of a violent uprising.

“That’s where you see the most vicious type of content.” Another post promoted the popular conspiracy theory that Boslonaro will win with at least 60 percent of the vote, giving him a “blank check” to control the country with military force. “We’re seeing just dreadful similarities to what happened in the US.” “On the mainstream platforms, [the far right] will perhaps be a bit more careful about the content that they’re posting,” says Kahn. “We are not thugs, we are free Brazilians fighting for your freedom!” reads one post in a pro-Bolsonaro Telegram group of more than 1,300 people in September. Researchers say that Telegram has become the hub of the country’s far right, which is calling for a military coup or violent uprising akin to the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, should sitting president Jair Bolsonaro lose.

Brazil's presidential election in October has become a riveting head-to-head contest between two larger-than-life figures representing opposite ends of the ...

He has evoked memories of a golden period for Brazil, when government policies funded by a commodities boom successfully eradicated hunger, reduced poverty and bolstered the ranks of the middle class -- good times he has pledged to revive. The state of the economy is, by quite some margin, the main worry of Brazilian voters, and it’s shown signs of improvement in the past few months. He’s stated that only God could remove him from office and has for most of his four years in government sought to undermine institutions that impose checks and balances on his powers. Lula, a former labor union leader, was found guilty of money laundering and corruption in 2017 and sentenced to almost 10 years in prison, which prevented him from running in the elections that brought Bolsonaro to power four years ago. Bolsonaro, 67, a former army captain who was stabbed while on the campaign trail in 2018 and has been hospitalized several times as a result of that attack, is equally controversial. While there are nine other contenders in the race, none has a realistic chance of winning.

South America's largest democracy will hold presidential elections on Oct. 2 with two iconic Latin American populists as competing candidates: Mr. Bolsonaro ...

She has been leading a project called “Encantar a Política” (“Enchanting Politics”), whose main objective is to recover the sense of a common good in political culture. Instead of promoting division in settings where there is already a lot of conflict, Catholics should be the ones “bringing love and enchantment to politics,” Ms. He said two issues have to be taken more seriously in the current relations between the church and the political establishment in Brazil. “In this political moment, the Catholic Church needs to be more discerning, prophetic and courageous,” he said. Calling on Brazilians to vote with “consciousness and responsibility,” the bishops have lamented the manner in which candidates have exploited religion. Brazil’s bishops have encouraged voters to choose candidates for Congress and the presidency who are “committed to the integral defense of life, defending it at all stages, from conception to natural death,” a message that would apparently put many Catholics at odds with Mr. “Stirring up the political process, fomenting chaos and encouraging authoritarian actions are definitely not a project of interest to the Brazilian people,” the bishops said. [access to vaccines was discouraged or hindered by the federal government](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/18/world/americas/brazil-covid-variants-vaccinations.html) and by Mr. Bolsonaro, in fact, had been elected to Congress and the presidency through the system he now insinuates is defective. Poverty has been on the rise during the crisis, and more than 33.1 million Brazilians—16 percent of all households—are living in hunger, a number 73 percent higher than two years ago, according to the [Brazilian Network for Research on Food Security](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220608-historic-setback-for-brazil-as-hunger-surges). A Trump-style social media campaign to undermine confidence in the electoral system conducted by Mr. Different civil authorities, such as the attorney general and Supreme Court justices, used the ceremony to defend the current electoral model and the integrity of the electronic voting system.

Rampant Brazil rolled past 10-man Tunisia 5-1 in a friendly on Tuesday with Raphinha scoring twice and setting up another goal in their last game before the World Cup. It was another dominant performance by the South American giants, who beat Ghana 3-0 ...

[Serbia](/soccer/team?id=6757) on Nov. However, Tunisia equalised seven minutes later with an opportunistic header by [Montassar Talbi](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/265099/Montassar-Talbi) from a free kick. [Neymar](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/132948/Neymar) penalty in the 29th minute after [Aissa Laidouni](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231984/Aissa-Laidouni) held [Casemiro](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/173666/Casemiro) back. [Dylan Bronn](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/240371/Dylan-Bronn) received a straight red card for a foul on Neymar. [Richarlison](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/156799/Richarlison) ghosting behind the defence and the striker fired a low shot between the keeper's legs. [Aymen Dahmen](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/265272/Aymen-Dahmen).

Rampant Brazil have destroyed 10-man Tunisia 5-1 with Raphinha scoring twice and setting up another goal in their...

Ecuador drew 0-0 with Japan in Germany while the United States and Saudi Arabia also finished scoreless in Spain. However, Tunisia equalised seven minutes later with an opportunistic header by Montassar Talbi from a free kick. The Selecao extended their lead through a Neymar penalty in the 29th minute and Raphinha scored his second with a precise low shot from the edge of the area in the 40th after a lightning counter-attack.

Brazil's global football tour continued in Paris with an entertaining 5-1 win over Tunisia at the Parc des Princes. The crowd in France were treated to an ...

Pedro added a fifth late on with a good finish to put the icing on the cake of a comfortable victory. The red was a bizarre decision and seemed to be a complete overreaction, spurred on by Neymar's histrionics and the complaints of his teammates. Dylan Bronn made a late challenge on the Paris Saint-Germain star and after a scuffle involving both teams, was shown a red card by the referee.

Rampant Brazil destroyed 10-man Tunisia 5-1 in a friendly on Tuesday with Raphinha scoring twice and setting up another goal in their last game before the ...

However, Tunisia equalised seven minutes later with an opportunistic header by Montassar Talbi from a free-kick. Raphinha scored his second with a precise low shot from the edge of the area in the 40th after a lightning counter-attack. Raphinha opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a brilliant header from the edge of the area over goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen.

That was a mess of a friendly match, but the Selecao handled it as well as possible.

They will enter the World Cup as one of the favourites, and it appears What was meant to intimidate Brazil in another act of bigotry towards Tite's team did no such thing. Brazil encountered a racist fan incident, laser pointers from the stands and rash defensive challenges from Tunisia in a 5-1 victory on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes.

Rampant Brazil have destroyed 10-man Tunisia 5-1 with Raphinha scoring twice and setting up another goal in their...

Ecuador drew 0-0 with Japan in Germany while the United States and Saudi Arabia also finished scoreless in Spain. However, Tunisia equalised seven minutes later with an opportunistic header by Montassar Talbi from a free kick. The Selecao extended their lead through a Neymar penalty in the 29th minute and Raphinha scored his second with a precise low shot from the edge of the area in the 40th after a lightning counter-attack.

Rampant Brazil have destroyed 10-man Tunisia 5-1 with Raphinha scoring twice and setting up another goal in their last game before the World Cup.

Ecuador drew 0-0 with Japan in Germany while the United States and Saudi Arabia also finished scoreless in Spain. However, Tunisia equalised seven minutes later with an opportunistic header by Montassar Talbi from a free kick. The Selecao extended their lead through a Neymar penalty in the 29th minute and Raphinha scored his second with a precise low shot from the edge of the area in the 40th after a lightning counter-attack.

Richarlison of Brazil controls the ball during the international friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia at Parc des Princes on September 27, 2022 in Paris, ...

Presidential candidates offer competing visions for country's most valuable listed business in energy transition.

Richarlison was celebrating scoring Brazil's second goal when a banana was thrown on the pitch as the Brazilian FA condemned the incident on Twitter.

It read: “Unfortunately a banana was thrown on the pitch towards Richarlison, scorer of the second Brazilian goal. I insist on saying that the punishments need to be more severe.” Footage showed Manchester United midfielder Fred kicking the banana away.

A banana was thrown from the crowd at Brazil players celebrating a goal in a friendly against Tunisia in Paris on Tuesday.

What appeared to be a water bottle and another object also were thrown toward them. [before the teams' derby match](/soccer/atletico-madrid-espatletico_madrid/story/4749893/atletico-madrid-fans-filmed-racially-abusing-real-madrid-forward-vinicius) on Sept. [Richarlison](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/156799/Richarlison), who is Black, had just scored the team's second goal in a [5-1 win](/soccer/report?gameId=652193) at Parc des Princes when the banana was thrown toward him and the other Brazilians celebrating near one of the corner flags.

Richarlison was the target of a banana thrown from the crowd as Brazil thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in a friendly in Paris on Tuesday, while Neymar edged closer to ...

Brazil continued to cut through the visitors' defence with ease and Raphinha scored again in the 40th minute by firing in off the post from the edge of the box. Incredibly, Brazil were back ahead just seconds after that setback, as Raphinha sent Richarlison in behind to drill a strike through the legs of Dahmen to score his third goal in two games after a double against Ghana. Richarlison also found the net, while Pedro scored as a second-half substitute before responding to more boos and missiles from the crowd by bowing in front of them in celebration. "Unfortunately... The Selecao produced a dominant first-half display in their final outing before travelling to Qatar for the World Cup, with Raphinha netting twice and Neymar moving to within two of Pele's record. Richarlison was the target of a banana thrown from the crowd as Brazil thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in a friendly in Paris on Tuesday, while Neymar edged closer to Pele's all-time scoring record for the five-time world champions.

The macho incumbent may try to attempt a US Capitol-style coup if defeated, says James N Green, professor of Brazilian history and culture at Brown ...

[January 6-style](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/20/january-6-hearings-trump-violated-law-stop-attack) attempt to overturn the election results remains to be seen. Finally eligible to run for the presidency, he immediately surged in the polls. [mishandling of the Covid-19 crisis](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/27/outrage-brazil-jair-bolsonaro-avoids-five-charges-related-to-covid-response) alienated many supporters. Knowing that Lula is ahead in the polls, US policymakers are signalling that they can live with a centre-left government led by the Workers’ party. Brazilian civil society organisations have also called on leaders around the world to recognise the election results. [sentenced to 12 years in prison](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/08/lula-brazil-released-prison-supreme-court-ruling). In August, and in response to Bolsonaro’s calls for armed forces to monitor the election results, some of the country’s most prominent lawyers and public figures issued a manifesto in defence of democracy, Bolsonaro was catapulted to the presidential palace four years ago under unusual circumstances. If you can get the armed forces or militias to intervene, all the better. If you lose, simply blame the press, the polls and the voting machines. Its far-right incumbent president, Jair Bolsonaro, will have to pull off the seemingly impossible to defeat his centre-left rival. As Brazil prepares to head to the polls in early October, the country is bracing for a change of course.

During the match, a banana was thrown from the stands toward the Brazil players while they were celebrating a goal. Brazilian players have been vocal ...

I insist on saying that the punishments need to be more severe," Brazilian FA president Ednaldo Rodrigues said. Raphinha scored his second with a precise low shot from the edge of the area in the 40th after a lightning counter-attack. However, Tunisia equalised seven minutes later with an opportunistic header by Montassar Talbi from a free kick.

A banana was thrown from the crowd at Brazil players celebrating a goal in a friendly against Tunisia in Paris on Tuesday.

[Tottenham Hotspur](/soccer/team?id=367) forward Richarlison, who was celebrating scoring Brazil's second goal of the game, said racism will continue "every day and everywhere" if it goes unpunished. "We are accustomed, it always happens with our national team," Rodrigo told Spanish radio station COPE. No time bro!"

President Jair Bolsonaro has sowed doubts about election security and urged his base to “go to war” if the vote is “stolen.”

“They don’t respect democracy, they don’t respect congress, and they don’t respect the judiciary,” said João Roberto Martins Filho, a professor at the Federal University of São Carlos and a former president of the Brazilian Association of Defense Studies. “If it is God’s will, I will continue,” he said in an interview with a pool of evangelical podcasters this month. “He could summon his supporters to take to the streets and cause turmoil, especially if there’s a second round,” said Guilherme Casarões, a political analyst at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in São Paulo. Former presidential candidates across the political spectrum have thrown their support behind Lula for the sake of “democracy.” In August, thousands of Brazilians gathered at the University of São Paulo’s law school, site of an anti-dictatorship protest in 1977, to rally for the rule of law. “We want to avoid an episode such as the Capitol invasion.” “But the people are not going to stand by quietly as the chair is stolen from a president who everyone voted for and loved.” A compromise with election officials will allow the military to audit a small sampling of the ballots cast Sunday. Bolsonaro also has pressed for the military to conduct a vote count in parallel with election officials. After a supreme court judge warned of the potential for political violence, Bolsonaro pointedly told his supporters to not stage a “new Capitol” invasion. Should he win outright, any attempt by Bolsonaro to cling to power would come up against institutions that are weaker than those in the United States — and would be the biggest challenge to democracy here since the end of the dictatorship in 1985. I think a number of autocrats could very well be put on the back foot.” The vote — Sunday is the first round — is pitting Bolsonaro’s supporters, the most radical of whom want a strongman in office, against Brazilians eager to end his Trumpian run.

Rampant Brazil destroyed 10-man Tunisia 5-1 in a friendly on Tuesday with Raphinha scoring twice and setting up another goal in their last game before the ...

I insist on saying that the punishments need to be more severe,” Brazilian FA president Ednaldo Rodrigues said. Raphinha scored his second with a precise low shot from the edge of the area in the 40th after a lightning counter-attack. However, Tunisia equalised seven minutes later with an opportunistic header by Montassar Talbi from a free kick.

In Brazil's 2018 elections, 422 candidates running in executive and legislative races at state and federal levels across the country received donations from ...

He voted in favor of the administration’s agenda [97% of times](https://radar.congressoemfoco.com.br/parlamentar/1204472/perfil), including supporting bills considered harmful to the environment, [according to experts](https://ruralometro2022.reporterbrasil.org.br/politicos/jose-medeiros). Rotta is the founder and owner of [UniSeeds](https://uniseeds.com.br/quem-somos), a group that sells soy and other grain seeds. [one](https://www.camara.leg.br/propostas-legislativas/2263069) that, if approved, will limit the amount of fines that IBAMA can impose on environmental violators, with a possible reduction in overall fines. [by IBAMA](https://servicos.ibama.gov.br/ctf/publico/areasembargadas/ConsultaPublicaAreasEmbargadas.php) for illegal deforestation in the municipality of Sapezal, in Mato Grosso’s northwestern corner. [Congresso em Foco](https://radar.congressoemfoco.com.br/parlamentar/1204472/perfil) (“Congress in Focus”) describes Medeiros as one of Bolsonaro’s staunchest allies in the Chamber. Mendes reportedly pressured regulators to approve a project to build small hydroelectric plants (SHPs) in one of the main rivers of the Pantanal. It was followed by the states of Rondônia, with 4.3 million reais ($1.1 million); São Paulo, with 1.6 million reais ($411,000); and Tocantins, with 1.5 million reais ($385,000). It shows his campaign received more than 1 million reais ($257,000) in donations from environmental violators, a figure that exceeds the amount raised by all 18 other politicians elected in the same state by the same sources. [Lucas do Rio Verde](https://www.olharjuridico.com.br/noticias/exibir.asp?id=48025¬icia=pivetta-se-livra-de-acao-que-julga-possiveis-fraudes-a-licitacoes-em-lucas-do-rio-verde) (MT). In the 2018 elections, 422 candidates running in executive and legislative races at state and federal levels across Brazil received donations from individuals and partners of companies linked to environmental crimes in the Amazon. In fact, more candidates were financed by environmental violators in Mato Grosso in the 2018 election than in any other state, according to the analysis, raking in 6 million reais ($1.5 million at the prevailing exchange rate) in total. It also showed that these environmental violators had racked up a combined more than 260 million reais ($67 million) as of the time of the election — more than in any other state.

Brazil's impressive end to its World Cup preparation was overshadowed by racist abuse as forward Richarlison had a banana thrown at him by a fan during the ...

“Those are dances to celebrate the cultural diversity of the world. “But my desire to win, my smile and the sparkle in my eyes are much bigger than that. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was at Tuesday’s game at the Parc des Princes. I insist on saying that the punishments need to be more severe.” I was a victim of a xenophobic and racist comment. “They belong to Ronaldinho, Neymar, [Lucas] Paqueta, [Antoine] Griezmann, Joao Felix, Matheus Cunha … I’m not going to stop.” But none of that started yesterday. The Tottenham Hotspur star scored Brazil’s second goal but as he celebrated a banana was thrown at him among other objects. CBF President Ednaldo Rodrigues later added: “This time, I saw it with my own eyes. This shocks us. “Unfortunately a banana was thrown on the pitch towards Richarlison, scorer of the second Brazilian goal,” read a CBF statement on Twitter.

The game at the Parc des Princes was also briefly paused in the first half as the crowd were twice implored not to point laser pens at Brazil players.

Morocco drew 0-0 with Paraguay in Seville. Football is a sport that promotes inclusion," said Tite. Brazil continued to cut through the visitors' defence with ease and Raphinha scored again in the 40th minute by firing in off the post from the edge of the box. "Unfortunately... Richarlison also found the net, while Pedro scored as a second-half substitute before responding to more boos and missiles from the crowd by bowing in front of them in celebration. Paris - Richarlison was the target of a banana thrown from the crowd as Brazil thrashed Tunisia 5-1 in a friendly in Paris on Tuesday, while Neymar edged closer to Pele's all-time scoring record for the five-time world champions.

Rampant Brazil destroyed 10-man Tunisia 5-1 in a friendly on Tuesday with Raphinha scoring twice and setting up another goal in their last game before the ...

African champions Senegal only managed to hold the lead for nine minutes before Sardar Azmoun equalised. I insist on saying that the punishments need to be more severe,” Brazilian FA president Ednaldo Rodrigues said. However, Tunisia equalised seven minutes later with an opportunistic header by Montassar Talbi from a free kick. Flamengo forward Pedro, the biggest sensation in the Brazilian league this season, came on and netted the fifth with a superb first-time shot from the edge of the box in the 74th. Raphinha scored his second with a precise low shot from the edge of the area in the 40th after a lightning counterattack. Rampant Brazil destroyed 10-man Tunisia 5-1 in a friendly on Tuesday with Raphinha scoring twice and setting up another goal in their last game before the World Cup.

Polls show left-wing former president Lula ousting incumbent Jair Bolsonaro on October 2.

“Now they are emboldened to express these views.” [](https://grist.org/global-indigenous-affairs-desk/we-will-all-die-if-we-continue-like-this-indigenous-people-push-un-for-climate-justice/) Two weeks ago, the former president’s environment minister, Marina Silva, who resigned in 2008 over objections to hydroelectric dam permitting, endorsed his candidacy after he agreed to implement [a list of environmental policies](https://valor.globo.com/politica/eleicoes-2022/noticia/2022/09/12/marina-silva-divulga-propostas-entregues-a-lula-leia-integra-da-carta-compromisso.ghtml) that she proposed. More recently, activists decried Lula’s support for reconstructing the [BR-319 highway through the Amazon](https://news.mongabay.com/2021/10/br-319-hearings-an-attack-on-brazils-interests-and-amazonias-future-commentary/). [by over 70 percent](https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/politica/fatos-primeiro-lula-e-impreciso-ao-citar-reducao-de-desmatamento-na-amazonia-nos-governos-petistas/). Between 2010 and 2021, illegal mining [increased on Indigenous lands by 632 percent](https://observatoriodamineracao.com.br/bolsonaro-cumpre-promessa-e-garimpo-em-terras-indigenas-cresce-632-em-uma-decada/), with the most drastic increases occurring under Bolsonaro’s watch. “Lula in 2022 is a different animal,” said Angelo. He also appointed anti-environmentalist staff to regulatory agencies across the federal government and prevented enforcement of environmental policy. Plus, Angelo adds, in contrast to his first tenure, they are now heavily armed as Bolsonaro has relaxed gun control laws. In his current campaign, the former president has spoken out against the destruction of the Amazon, promising to put an end to illegal mining and fight organized networks driving deforestation. [recent polling](https://especiaisg1.globo/politica/eleicoes/2022/pesquisas-eleitorais/presidente/1-turno/) from the group IPEC, Lula has been picking up steam in the final days of the campaign, solidifying a significant lead. IPEC’s polling indicates that if the election were to take place today, Lula would likely receive 52 percent of the valid vote — after deducting null ballots — which points to a possible first-round victory. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote on October 2, the election goes to a runoff on October 30.

Brazil's leader said last month he would respect any election outcome come October, if voting is clean. That still leaves plenty of risk.

Lula would enter office with a progressive agenda. Will he be able to repeat the successes of his last presidency?

[illegal mining and deforestation surged](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02644-x) across the Amazon. He is seen as a champion of Brazil’s [indigenous population](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-lula-promises-indigenous-tribes-he-will-reverse-bolsonaro-measures-2022-04-12/) and of LGBTQ+ rights, having called homophobia a “ [perverse disease](https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2008/06/11/brazilian-president-calls-homophobia-a-perverse-disease/)”. The overarching legacy of a Lula re-election, according to Brazil’s former finance minister Nelson Barbosa, would be “to consolidate democracy in Brazil”. (Editor’s note: for more on the shortcomings of GDP as a measure of the success or failure of a policy or leader, see [this article](https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/gdp-measurement-new-zealand-beyond-economic-growth/) from our archive.) [income inequality](https://brazilian.report/liveblog/2022/06/10/default-inflation-inequality/) and provide a shot in the arm for the country’s vast informal sector (made up of tens of millions of citizens not registered in official employment data). Originally drafted in 2020, it stressed the need for an “ecological transition to a low carbon economy”, and supported a “Green New Deal”. What’s more, the inevitable horse-trading needed to secure a majority in Brazil’s fragmented congress will likely hamper an economically progressive agenda. At [90%](https://www.capitaleconomics.com/publications/latin-america-economics-focus/lula-lessons-past#no-back), the country’s gross debt-to-GDP ratio is one third higher than when Lula left office in 2010. [17-point lead](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/lula-remains-ahead-bolsonaro-brazil-election-looms-poll-2022-09-26/) over his rival. In a last-gasp effort to woo voters, the package includes a cap on petrol taxes and handouts to low-income families. He’s already hinted that he would maintain the recently approved boost to social welfare. Although he looks set to fall short of the 50% voting share needed to avoid a second-round vote, which would take place on 30 October, he remains odds-on to win the run-off.

Over 156 million people are eligible to vote, making Brazil the world's fifth-largest democracy — after India, the U.S., Indonesia, and Pakistan. Brazilians ...

It would be a first since 1998, when Fernando Henrique Cardoso won a second term without the need for a runoff. [Facebook.](https://www.facebook.com/thebrazilianreport) [pull off a first-round win](https://brazilian.report/liveblog/2022/09/26/poll-ipec-first-round-win-lula/)on October 2. [ticket-splitting is a big thing in Brazil.](https://brazilian.report/power/2022/09/24/races-governor-ticket-splitting/) [our take on the first presidential debate of 2022.](https://brazilian.report/newsletters/brazil-weekly/2022/08/29/lula-bolsonaro-lackluster-debate/) [HLV454OEALKQ0QVC](https://uppbeat.io/t/hey-pluto/miami-1987), [JAWBPNFRZHIXEMLU](https://uppbeat.io/t/dread-pitt/safari), [BZKK6E8CHP9VMNMG](https://uppbeat.io/t/doug-organ/carpenter), [E6NW1T3J1JVTLCC3](https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/marshmallow), [KN8CXMZ8UAY0ZR4R](https://uppbeat.io/t/simon-folwar/cymatics), [GNCKZJK0T2B9DT3Q](https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/tunnel).