Thousands protested in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday against Flavio Bolsonaro, a presidential candidate and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, highlighting concerns over Brazil’s far-right movement.
The demonstration followed Flavio Bolsonaro’s success in the first round of the presidential elections, where he secured 47 percent of the vote, narrowly ahead of incumbent leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who received 45 percent. With neither candidate achieving a majority, they will compete in a run-off on 25 October.
Protesters expressed fears that Brazil might witness a shift from left to right leadership, reminiscent of political changes in other Latin American countries. They marched through the city centre brandishing banners with slogans like “Never again Bolsonaro” and “Dictatorship never again”.
Alice Carneiro, a 25-year-old maritime administrator, voiced her concerns, stating, “I’m here because I believe in democracy. Because I’m scared.” She fears a backlash against her transgender wife under a far-right government.
Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency from 2019 to 2023 was controversial, with his support for Brazil’s military dictatorship, which was involved in the persecution of dissenters. He is currently serving a 27-year sentence for conspiring to overturn his 2022 election defeat after his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia following Lula’s inauguration.
Critics view Jair Bolsonaro’s actions as detrimental to democracy in Brazil. Meanwhile, Flavio Bolsonaro has gained his father’s endorsement and has expressed support for amnesty for him, raising alarm among protesters.
Emmanuel Araujo, a 19-year-old student preparing for university exams, lamented the rise of Bolsonarism, saying, “Lula might not be my preferred candidate, but amid this barbarism, we have to choose between someone we can keep criticising and someone who might take away our right to speak.”
