BRAZIL GOES TO THE POLLS TODAY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2ND 2022

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Brazil goes to the Polls today Sunday, October 2nd,2022 to vote for their next President. The incumbent Jair Bolsonaro is looking to defend his Presidency in the face of a stubborn resistance, provided by the veteran Leader, and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Today’s Elections is the most important Election since 1985, where much more is on the line, than just popular Votes and political Careers.

AN ELECTION LIKE NO OTHER

Brazil formally transitioned from a Military Dictatorship to a Democracy after the 1985 Elections which saw the Country elect it’s First Civilian President. Since then, Brazil has successfully remained a Democracy, effectively keeping the Military in it’s Barracks. Albeit certain Challenges, the Country has maintained strong Institutions that have upheld the Principles of Democracy. While it has faced many Challenges on the Road to establishing this Democratic Setup, today’s Elections are set to be the biggest Test of these Institutions of Brazil’s Democratic past.

Today’s 2022 Elections reflects upon a Nation divided. The Candidates themselves represent this divide. While the far-right President Bolsonaro has rallied People around his intense Rhetoric of familial Values, pro-Gun Policies and Mysoginistic and Homophobic Tirades; the Leftist Lula has tried to shift the focus towards the woeful Economic State of the Country, Environmental Degradation, Authoritarian shift under the Bolsonaro Regime and the menace of growing Political Violence.

WHITER DEMOCRACY ?

Former President Lula has provided a stubborn resistance to Bolsonaro’s populist Rhetoric in the run-up to today’s Elections . The recent Poll Data suggests a close Contest with Lula taking the edge over Bolsonaro in the First Round on October 2. However, Lula is predicted to fall short of the Fifty Percent Mark which will lead to a Second Round of voting between the Two Frontrunners. While Lula is heavily backed to win the Presidential Election, it remains to be seen how Bolsonaro and his Supporters will react once the Results are declared. The incumbent President has criticised the Electoral System calling it vulnerable and prone to Fraud. He had previously stated that he will not indulge in an Electoral “Farce”, saying “only God will remove me from power”. These Statements have led to growing concerns that Bolsonaro might not accept the Result of the Elections if it is unfavourable to him, as he has recurretly said, hinting towards the possibility of Voter Fraud. สล็อต

While Bolsonaro has also made these Statements previously during his 2018 Election Campaign, what makes the current Election different is his Advocacy for involving the Military in the Electoral Process. Conveying his concerns regarding Electoral Fraud in a “Briefing” to a Convoy of Diplomats in July, Bolsonaro argued for involving the Brazilian Military to secure transparency in the Elections. The Leaders of Brazil’s Armed Forces have backed this View, raising similar doubts regarding Integrity of the Electoral System, despite little Evidence of past Fraud. Earlier addressing a Rally in Rio de Janeiro, he told his Supporters: “The Army is on our side”.

These developments are rather concerning considering Brazil’s brutal and very recent History of Military Dictatorship. However unlikely, the possibility of a return to Military Dictatorship will have severe consequences for Democracy not only in Brazil, but also in South America, which may lead to autocratic Leaders propping up in other Parts of the Region. While chances of a Military Coup can be ruled out on accounts of Bolsonaro not having enough Institutional Support to carry out his Will, the issue of widespread post Elections political Violence looms large.

While Lula’s Supporters will be hoping for a First Round majority Win to dispel the troubles of post-election Violence, Bolsonaro’s Supporters will consider a loss as part of a conspiracy against their Leader. Whatever the Result may be, today’s October Elections are set to be the toughest Test for Brazil’s Democracy yet, it is One that holds the capacity of changing the course of Democracy in Brazil forever.