Elections in Brazil: right versus left, young versus old

Brazil is voting and the whole world is watching – that’s what a number of international media outlets are currently saying. And there is actually a lot at stake when Brazilians elect a new president this weekend, among other things. Officially there are 13 candidates, but in reality it is a head-to-head race between the current President Lula da Silva and his strongest opponent Flávio Bolsonaro – the son of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro. While Lula da Silva was ahead in previous polls, Flávio Bolsonaro has been catching up in recent weeks. A runoff election is currently expected at the end of October.

Is Bolsonaro threatening a further shift to the right in Latin America, in a country like Brazil that is extremely relevant economically and politically? What do the local people hope for? And can the left's hope, Lula da Silva, run for another term? It would then be his fourth presidency. Despite significant scandals, they are unlikely to cost Flávio Bolsonaro any votes.

Religion plays a central role in the election campaign and is used by both sides - sometimes in absurd ways - in the fight for the voters' votes. The election is also being followed with great interest in terms of foreign policy. US President Donald Trump openly supports Bolsonaro, as does Argentine President Milei. And Lula da Silva is moving closer to China, as Brazil is an important player in the Brics group of countries.

Tanja Tricarico from the foreign department of the taz talks to Brazil correspondent Christine Wollowski about the power behavior of the left against the right, about the power struggle of old against young, and poor against elite.

The episode was recorded on September 29, 2026 at 11 a.m. CEST.

Long-distance connection – The taz foreign podcast appears every week on taz.de and everywhere there are podcasts.