Neither Bolsonaro nor Lula: Brazil’s undecided and abstaining voters may determine the election

Brazil's recent elections highlighted a generational shift in the country's political landscape. Nine out of the ten candidates for the Lower Chamber received the most votes and were under 40 years old, with an average age of just 31.6 years. This contrasts with the previous era dominated by Lula da Silva, who has run for president in every election since 1989 but faces an uncertain political future without a clear successor.

During the elections, Flávio Bolsonaro's Liberal Party achieved a record-breaking 121 seats in the Lower Chamber and 28 in the Senate, though they still fall short of a majority. The election also saw a significant rise in the political comeback of key figures from Lava Jato, the anti-corruption investigation. Additionally, the Supreme Court's influence over Brazil's political system became a major issue, with over 100,000 decisions issued in 2025 alone, leading to potential clashes with the newly elected Senate.