Brazil: Before the runoff election between Bolsonaro and da Silva, faith is key

Evangelicals before the election in Brazil

“He is with the devil, and we are with God”

Brazil will elect a new president on October 25th. Faith plays a crucial role in this – and not just on the right. Even the left-wing President da Silva cannot ignore God.

The campaign for the decisive vote in the presidential election on October 25th Brazil running. The left-wing President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, 80, campaigned for his re-election at a large rally in São Paulo at the weekend. “This country must not lose democracy,” said Lula.

His right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro is not alone in promoting himself in the last few days before the runoff election. The country’s highest court allowed him to marry his father Jair Bolsonaro to visit while under house arrest. The former president, who attempted a coup after his election defeat in January 2023, was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison in 2025. Bolsonaro Jr. relies on the strength of the family. And on God.

Flávio Bolsonaro has been baptized four times. Only at the beginning of the year did he climb into the Jordan at a historic site to renew his baptismal promises. As a reminder: According to biblical tradition, Jesus received baptism there by John the Baptist.

Evangelical churches in particular play a crucial role in the Brazilian presidential election campaign. They reinterpret the Christian ideal of salvation as a promise of prosperity. This particularly appeals to the poorer electorate. The Brazilian scientist Jessé Souza, author of the book “O pobre de direita” – The Right Poor – explains: “God promises material wealth and health.”

t-online explains the political situation and the power of the churches in the election campaign.

Flávio Bolsonaro from the right-wing populist Partido Liberal (PL) surprisingly won the first round. With his 47 percent, he was two points ahead of incumbent “Lula” from the left-wing Workers’ Party (PT), who got 45 percent. The decision will be made in the runoff election on October 25th.

Bolsonaro could have advantages there. He received decisive tailwind before the runoff election: the third-place finisher in the first round, Augusto Cury, announced that he would support Bolsonaro. But his support was “not a blank check,” said Cury, who received three percent of the vote. However, polls predict that many of his voters will defect to the Bolsonaro camp.