A political race that could take Brazil’s current president, Jair Bolsonaro, by surprise in the next 2022 Presidential Election has already begun in the polls. Former President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who steered the country between 2002 and 2010, is currently leading with 46% while Bolsonaro sits at 23%.
The former factory worker referred to as Lula, had come to be one of the most popular politicians to lead Brazil. That is until he was sentenced to 12 months for corruption in 2018. According to Lula, these charges were false and were considered as a battle against a leader who rules for the people. Going on to vow to prove his innocence to his beloved supporters took much more time than he most likely hoped. It wasn’t until this past April that Lula was acquitted of his charges.
That being said, will there be a chance Lula steps back into the presidential spotlight? It isn’t quite 100% certain as to when questioned where he was receiving his award for Politique Internationale’s Prize for Political Courage, he responded. “I’ll let you know.”
That doesn’t mean he hasn’t made his statements on the current people in power calling them ignorant and making it known how much he adores the hard-working and democratic Brazilian people. As well as making it clear that Brazils mission to be a more Earth-friendly country was a cause worthy of continuing to fight for. Notably when these comments are what makes him and keeps him so popular not only in Brazil but across Europe and the United States. With his ‘old’ yet honest strategy in place, speaking with the local people and retaining good relations with political forces outside his own worker’s party, his re-election could be somewhat of a piece of Bolo de brigadeiro (a famous Brazilian cake)
While there are some stipulate, or more specifically the Centrao, involved in Lula’s re-election, even these he may be lucky to have a hold of. Not specifically because of him, but because of the parties wanting Bolsonaro removed from office.
Bolsonaro handling of the Covid-19 Pandemic saw him being investigated multiple times by Brazil’s Supreme Court. His most recent inquiry has been claiming during a Livestream that the Covid-19 vaccine could see the chances of contracting AIDS increase. While simply a statement taken out of a magazine, it is these claims throughout the pandemic that have led to his dent in popularity. Brazil currently sits second to the United States in death tolls having more than 615,000 deaths.
For now, there is merely uncertainty and hope. While it may be easy from the people’s point of view, for the business community, there could be some troubles. Lula could be seen as too left and Bolsonaro as not an option anymore. Judge Sergio Moro, who sits between the two could be an option. However, while Bolsonaro is laying low due to impeachment fears due to his threat of a coup in September 2021, he sits on the same lines as former President of the United States, Donald Trump. He will not go without a fight.
