Thursday, January 23, 2025

Brazil: polarization and tense calm

The polls in Brazil opened at 8:00 a.m. and from that moment until closing, people did not stop going to cast their vote in a context of polarization and expectation. 

At the polling stations, it was easy to imagine how people would vote: supporters of Luís Lula da Silva were dressed in red, the colour of the Workers' Party founded by the candidate, and supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, the current president, carried flags, t-shirts or badges with the Brazilian flag. Bolsonaro has made the national flag almost his personal logo. 

ballot boxes in Brazil
Photo: Ingrid S chez. Pensula 360 Press – Global Exchange

Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city, is filled with buildings up to 20 stories high. Looking up, you can see red flags or Brazilian flags in the windows. Small splashes of color amidst the concrete.