Key facts
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has launched his campaign for a fourth term.
- Lula faces Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, in the upcoming election.
- Lula promised to focus on improving education, healthcare, and developing Brazil's rare earth deposits.
- Polls indicate Lula has a slight lead over Bolsonaro.
- Concerns exist about potential US intervention or interference in Brazil's election due to recent designations of Brazilian crime groups as terrorist organizations.
Brazil's leftwing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has launched his campaign for a historic fourth term, vowing to improve education, healthcare, and security. Addressing supporters in São Bernardo do Campo, Lula, 80, recalled the perceived chaos and violence of his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro's 2018-2022 presidency, including the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and increased gun ownership. Lula promised to target organized crime bosses living in luxury apartments.
Lula's political career began in this industrial city in 1979 as a union leader, spearheading strikes that helped end the military dictatorship. His first two terms, from 2002 to 2010, were credited with fighting hunger and expanding social programs, though his administration faced corruption scandals. After being jailed for alleged corruption and having his conviction quashed, Lula won his third term in 2022, narrowly defeating Bolsonaro.
Flávio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro's son and a senator, launched his own campaign, praising Trump's decision to designate Brazilian crime groups as terrorist organizations. Polls suggest Lula holds a slight advantage over Flávio Bolsonaro in a potential run-off election. Political analyst André Pagliarini views the contest as globally significant, potentially boosting a "pro-Trump reactionary block" in Latin America.
Recent actions by the Trump administration, including designating Brazil's major organized crime groups as terrorist organizations, have raised concerns among Lula supporters about potential US military intervention or election interference. Some activists expressed anger towards Trump, drawing parallels to past US actions in other countries.