Lula and his Workers’ Party have framed this election as a critical “battle for democracy,” asserting that Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction for coup-plotting proves that “Bolsonarismo” poses a direct threat to Brazil’s democratic institutions.
Lula’s current administration has experienced tense relations with the United States. Lula has firmly insisted that Brazil “does not fit into anyone’s backyard,” a clear pushback against the “Donroe Doctrine”—a national security strategy asserting that US dominance in the Western Hemisphere should not be challenged.
In contrast, Bolsonaro argues that collaborating with Washington to combat powerful criminal gangs—widespread in parts of Brazil—will help restore state sovereignty over gang-controlled territories.
Furthermore, he has labeled the Workers’ Party as corrupt, frequently reminding voters of the massive financial scandals that plagued the party for years, turning many against it.
As the votes are counted, Lula plans to watch the results from São Paulo, while Bolsonaro is set to remain in the capital, Brasília—the same city where his father is currently under house arrest.
