On October 2, 2022, nearly 146 million Brazilians will head to the polls to select who will be their president until 2026. They will also pick 27 senators (one-third of the 81-seat upper chamber), 513 representatives, and 27 state governors. And while the polls will open only a year from now, make no mistake: the 2022 election has already begun.
President Jair Bolsonaro, the incumbent facing an uphill battle for re-election, is traveling the country constantly to meet voters and present them with projects and policies to win their hearts and minds, seeking to create a positive news cycle around his otherwise embattled presidency. Since late last year, Mr. Bolsonaro’s rejection rates have steadily increased, with each new poll suggesting his chances of getting another four years are dwindling.
Meanwhile, his biggest nemesis, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is quietly working behind the scenes, trying to weave alliances that will make him the name to beat Mr. Bolsonaro. After governing Brazil for eight years — and during the 2000s commodities supercycle — Lula enjoys massive name recognition and popularity, especially among lower-income voters. If the elections were held today, no candidate would be able to beat him.
But, of course, the elections are not today.
With that in mind, several other candidates from the center-left and center-right are jostling for space as a third-way alternative, a term which in Brazil essentially encapsulates anyone not named Lula or Jair Bolsonaro. They want to profit from the sizable rejection rates that both frontrunners face — but have so far failed terribly to enthuse voters.
None are polling above 10 percent, not nearly enough to mount a challenge against the two most popular (and simultaneously unpopular) politicians in Brazil.
Here are the main candidates from that neither-nor camp for the 2022 election:
A seasoned politician, Mr. Gomes has already served as a federal representative, governor of the northeastern state Ceará, and he served in Lula’s cabinet. He is the main figurehead of the center-left (but increasingly centrist) Democratic Labor Party, the PDT.
Since entering electoral politics in 2016, running for mayor of São Paulo, Mr. Doria has only had eyes for one goal: the Brazilian presidency. He resigned from City Hall in 2018 to successfully run for São Paulo governor, being handed the keys to a state that has a larger population (and economy) than many countries.
The first-term governor of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Mr. Leite has become notable for managing to pass austerity reforms and privatizations during his tenure. He also gained fame after coming out as gay earlier this year. Just like João Doria, Mr. Leite is a member of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) and will fight him for the party’s nomination.
The former lead judge of the Operation Car Wash anti-corruption task force, Mr. Moro briefly served as Justice Minister under the Bolsonaro administration. He resigned last year, accusing the president of trying to tamper with federal probes.
Panama was once a part of Colombia. Its canal, a monumental engineering achievement of its…
The specialization trend among corporate board members It is not only a matter of perception:…
Panama will hold its presidential elections on Sunday, months after huge protests saw thousands descend…
The city of Rio de Janeiro estimates that a Madonna concert this Saturday on Copacabana…
Latin America’s trend of banning opposition candidates from elections has caught on in an ever-growing…
The São Paulo City Council on Thursday approved legislation authorizing Brazil’s largest city to sign…