In 1946, just after the Second World War, Stefan Zweig published his well-known book “Brazil, Country of the Future.” Until then, the largest republic in South America had not received such admiring attention.
In sixteen days, next Sunday, October 25, we have the second round of the presidential elections, which the candidate Bolsonaro won in the first round, with a majority of 2.5 percent. Significant, but it does not represent absolute security that the young candidate, who demands the freedom of his father, is today in prison for corruption during his own presidential term between 2019 and 2023. It can be said that the first objective of Bolsonaro-II is save one’s own historical political name, freeing his father. An aspiration that has existed in other high-profile electoral cases, and that always attracts many votes.
Lula, already twelve years as former president, coming from the working classes, was the creator of a workers’ party, with a broad popular presence, is also attending this electoral event. True, with visible fatigue on the part of his voters, who see more youth and enthusiasm in his rival.
It is an interesting electoral moment. A meeting between the broadest left and the most powerful right. With the greatest possibility, today, that the defending son emerges rather than the octogenarian northeastern worker.
In short, it is up for grabs whether there will be total Trump dominance on the American continent, or whether, on the contrary, Lula with Claudia Shein-baum, president of Mexico, make up a strong duo against the right-wing electorate of the three Americas.
In two more weeks, we will have the decision of the Brazilian people, whose efforts are recorded in the maps that we have seen of an enriched southern area, and a large poor area to the north. The homogenization of Brazilians on the hard path of development is still far away, then.