The Aporia
The Aporia
Hughes, E. (2026, October 22). Spooked by Bolsonaro, Brazil’s left takes to social media and the streets pushing for Lula win. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/americas/spooked-by-bolsonaro-brazil-s-left-takes-to-social-media-and-the-streets-pushing-for-lula-win/article_88fa1e47-a9ff-51fb-b0e4-3321eaf0f321.html
Hughes, Eléonore. “Spooked by Bolsonaro, Brazil’s left takes to social media and the streets pushing for Lula win.” Toronto Star, 22 Oct. 2026, https://www.thestar.com/news/world/americas/spooked-by-bolsonaro-brazil-s-left-takes-to-social-media-and-the-streets-pushing-for-lula-win/article_88fa1e47-a9ff-51fb-b0e4-3321eaf0f321.html.
Hughes, Eléonore. “Spooked by Bolsonaro, Brazil’s left takes to social media and the streets pushing for Lula win.” Toronto Star, October 22, 2026. https://www.thestar.com/news/world/americas/spooked-by-bolsonaro-brazil-s-left-takes-to-social-media-and-the-streets-pushing-for-lula-win/article_88fa1e47-a9ff-51fb-b0e4-3321eaf0f321.html.
Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.
When Brazil’s presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro surpassed incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by more than 2 million votes in the first round of the country's election this month, the left was caught off guard. This prompted an unprecedented surge in digital activism and street protests on a scale not seen in years, as the left mobilized to support Lula’s victory. The left has traditionally struggled to match the far-right's adept use of digital platforms, which experts say influences voter behavior. Many are wary of another Bolsonaro family member in office due to Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency (2019-2022), marked by mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic and attempts to undermine democracy. The recent wave of activism is yielding results, with polls showing the race has tightened significantly since then.
When Brazil’s presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro bested incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by more than 2 million votes in the first round of the country’s election earlier this month, the left was caught off guard.
The increased likelihood of a far-right Bolsonaro family member returning to office spurred an unprecedented engagement in digital activism and protests on a scale not seen in years, as the left mobilized in the hope of securing a Lula victory.
They recall his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the surge in deforestation in the Amazon rainforest as well as his attempt to overthrow democracy after his 2022 defeat to Lula, which led to his 27-year prison sentence.
Polls indicate the race has tightened. More than 33 million out of nearly 160 million eligible voters abstained in the first round, representing a reservoir of votes that Lula hopes to tap into to reverse Bolsonaro’s lead.
Congress has shifted to the right Millions of people have spontaneously poured onto the streets in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in what analysts say are the biggest leftist demonstrations at least since 2013.
