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Brazil’s victory for the planet and democracy: seven lessons from Lula’s win

29 October 2026 at 20:46

The trouncing of the far right provides a playbook for social and environmental movements in other countries facing elections, including the US, Spain and France

Thank you, Brazil, for demonstrating how the far right can be trounced while protection for the Amazon is strengthened. In a world where nature and democracy appeared to be bleeding out in tandem, voters and forest defenders in this global south powerhouse have shown it is possible to staunch the flow. This should provide much needed inspiration and, more practically, a playbook for social and environmental movements in other countries facing elections, including the US, Spain and France.

The astonishing comeback victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Sunday’s presidential runoff against his extreme right challenger Flavío Bolsonaro has brought oceans of rapturous supporters on to the streets, while also thrilling conservationists, climate activists and social justice campaigners across the world.

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© Photograph: Andre Coelho/EPA

© Photograph: Andre Coelho/EPA

© Photograph: Andre Coelho/EPA

Brazil’s victory for the planet and democracy: seven lessons from Lula’s win

29 October 2026 at 20:46

The trouncing of the far right provides a playbook for social and environmental movements in other countries facing elections, including the US, Spain and France

Thank you, Brazil, for demonstrating how the far right can be trounced while protection for the Amazon is strengthened. In a world where nature and democracy appeared to be bleeding out in tandem, voters and forest defenders in this global south powerhouse have shown it is possible to staunch the flow. This should provide much needed inspiration and, more practically, a playbook for social and environmental movements in other countries facing elections, including the US, Spain and France.

The astonishing comeback victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Sunday’s presidential runoff against his extreme right challenger Flavío Bolsonaro has brought oceans of rapturous supporters on to the streets, while also thrilling conservationists, climate activists and social justice campaigners across the world.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Andre Coelho/EPA

© Photograph: Andre Coelho/EPA

© Photograph: Andre Coelho/EPA

Flávio Bolsonaro’s defeat is a major blow to Trump and his orange wave

29 October 2026 at 13:00

The far-right candidate was supposed to claim the presidency, but Brazilian voters had other ideas

For Donald Trump, Brazil’s presidential election was meant to represent the crest of the “orange wave” – a three-year surge of rightwing triumphs that has reshaped Latin American politics in the US president’s tangerine-hued image.

The far-right candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, was supposed to claim the presidency on Sunday, bringing the region’s biggest democracy and economy into Trump’s orbit, after similar victories in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Ecuador and Peru – not to mention the capture of Venezuela’s government after the country was invaded in January.

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© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

How André Janones Helped Turbocharge Lula’s Comeback in Brazil’s Election

With street talk and tactics from the far-right’s playbook, André Janones used a WhatsApp channel to help organize millions of Brazilians online.

© Victor Moriyama for The New York Times

The Brazilian congressman André Janones created a digital “army” by setting up WhatsApp groups and posting on Instagram, which helped mobilized the vote for the reelection of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Brazil's Flávio Bolsonaro flees to U.S. after election loss

29 October 2026 at 01:35
Another member of Brazil's Bolsonaro family has found haven from possible prosecution by fleeing to the U.S., where they have an ally in President Trump. Just three days after losing Brazil's presidential election, Flávio Bolsonaro, who faces multiple criminal investigations, defied a Brazilian court and left the country. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Brian Winter of America's Quarterly.

WATCH: Defeated Brazilian candidate Flávio Bolsonaro arrives in U.S. amid investigation

The stunning move came after 48 hours in which Bolsonaro refused to concede to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and then threatened to attempt to annul the election result. He is under investigation by Brazil's Supreme Court for alleged corruption, money laundering and tax evasion in two cases.

Flávio Bolsonaro calls himself the ‘leader of Brazil’ after fleeing to Miami

Far-right senator and family land in US after crossing from Brazil into Argentina and then flying via Ecuador

Flávio Bolsonaro declared himself the “true president” of Brazil after losing last Sunday’s presidential election and fleeing to the United States.

After landing on a private jet with his family in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday morning, the far-right senator published the claim in a letter – even though his own party has recognised the legitimate victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as have all of Brazil’s institutions, and international observers who monitored and endorsed the vote.

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© Photograph: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images

Flávio Bolsonaro calls himself the ‘leader of Brazil’ after fleeing to Miami

Far-right senator and family land in US after crossing from Brazil into Argentina and then flying via Ecuador

Flávio Bolsonaro declared himself the “true president” of Brazil after losing last Sunday’s presidential election and fleeing to the United States.

After landing on a private jet with his family in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday morning, the far-right senator published the claim in a letter – even though his own party has recognised the legitimate victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as have all of Brazil’s institutions, and international observers who monitored and endorsed the vote.

Continue reading...

© Photograph: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images

Flávio Bolsonaro Leaves Brazil for the U.S. After Election Defeat

Officials in Argentina said Mr. Bolsonaro entered the country by land then flew to Ecuador. Brazilian police had asked him to hand over his passports because of his links to an investigation.

© Pablo Porciuncula/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Flávio Bolsonaro in Brasília on Sunday after hearing early results in the election he lost to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Brazil's Flávio Bolsonaro and his family will get U.S. visas after presidential election loss

A senior State Department official said Tuesday that Flávio Bolsonaro and his family will be granted U.S. visas after his weekend loss to incumbent Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a hotly contested race that bucked a trend of conservative electoral results in Latin America.

Environmentalists celebrate Lula's reelection in Brazil: 'The Amazon can breathe a sigh of relief'

Lula's government recently announced the lowest Amazon deforestation rate on record. However, he faces a Congress dominated by the far right and agribusiness interests, which often back measures weakening environmental protections.

Flávio Bolsonaro flees Brazil after presidential election loss, reports say

Far-right senator and his family boarded private plane to Ecuador after crossing border to Argentina, Argentina’s government confirms

The far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro has reportedly fled Brazil and is on his way to the United States after losing Sunday’s presidential election to the leftwing incumbent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who called the act “shameful”.

A report by the news website Metrópoles, citing people close to the politician’s family, said he was en route to the US. “The plane is in flight,” Metrópoles reported, without making clear where it had departed from.

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© Photograph: Lucas Neves/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Lucas Neves/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Lucas Neves/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Lula prevails in Brazil but Flávio Bolsonaro refuses to concede

In a closely watched election, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated right-wing and Trump-aligned challenger Flávio Bolsonaro. Transport and weather disruptions in parts of Brazil led to a chaotic final stretch at the polls. Bolsonaro is refusing to concede, and President Trump called the outcome "rigged." Stephanie Sy reports.

Brazil’s Vote Is a Victory for the Amazon, Environmentalists Say

27 October 2026 at 01:13
The re-election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to lead to continued rainforest protections. His opponent wanted to make it easier to clear land.

© Bruno Kelly/Reuters

A deforested area of the Amazon burned by wildfire in Brazil earlier this month. As president, Mr. Lula has pledged to protect the region.

How Lula’s Social Media Campaign Helped Him Win Brazil’s Election

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won another term on Sunday, with the help of a seismic social media campaign that convinced Brazilians to reject his rival.

© Rodrigo Paiva/Getty Images

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s army of supporters, mobilized over a WhatsApp chat group, delivered an unexpected victory over Flávio Bolsonaro, the right-wing challenger.
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