Spooked by Bolsonaro, Brazil’s left takes to social media and the streets pushing for Lula win
Brazil's presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro won the first round of the country's election by more than 2 million votes, catching the left off guard. The left, which has struggled to compete with the far-right's use of digital platforms, has responded with unprecedented online mobilization and protests in a bid to secure a Lula victory.
The left is haunted by the presidency of Flávio's father, Jair Bolsonaro, who mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic, caused deforestation in the Amazon, and attempted to overthrow democracy after his 2022 defeat by Lula. Lula has gained traction on social media, amassing over 200 million interactions since October 5, compared to Bolsonaro's 54 million interactions.
Recent street protests in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are the largest leftist demonstrations since 2013. The left's digital transformation could result in a more favorable judiciary and legislative, potentially leading to a far-right presidency under Flávio Bolsonaro, which could significantly alter Brazil's political landscape.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
