Brazil's Trump



Understanding our own politics is tricky enough, let alone another country's; however, in many debate rounds, the focus is on other systems of government. One of the most recent developments is the rise of populism in the United States and around the world. This post will focus on the rise of populism in Brazil with the most recent Presidential election. Thanks!


  • The increasing polarization in politics is not unique to the United States, but rather, extends globally. In Brazil, there is a turning point for their internal politics. 
  • Characterized by rampant corruption, a struggling economy, fiscal imbalances, and a terrible rate of violent crime, Brazil desperately needs good leadership to change the course of the country. 
  • As of October 7, Brazilians will vote for nearly six hundred members of their congress and the next president of the country. 
  • Most interestingly, the frontrunner, Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party, is what newspapers have dubbed “the Trump of the Tropics."
  •  While he is a veteran politician, many experts warn that Bolsonaro could revert to authoritarian tactics to maintain control over the population. Despite other opposition candidates, Bolsonaro represents an increasing trend toward populism fueled by President Trump in the United States. 
  • Bolsonaro has often shown his support for times in Brazilian history that now pose threats to democracy. For instance, he was a supporter of the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964-1985, killing thousands. 
  • In a true hard-right fashion, he also openly supports ultraconservative policies regarding women, minorities, the LGBTQ community, and other traditionally liberal social movements. His largest opponent in the polls is Fernando Haddad of the Worker’s Party. 
  • Haddad is the successor of the former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is now in jail for twelve years over charges of corruption. The election represents a “litmus test” for the fledgling democratic rule in Brazil. 
  •  Both front-runners are highly polarizing and struggle to rally support for any meaningful reforms to strengthen the already crumbling democratic institutions. 
  • Bolsonaro, who came close to the 50% vote requirement to become president, will run in a face-off with candidate Fernando Haddad following elections on Sunday. Bolsonaro’s inevitable win reflects the trend toward autocratic-populism globally—most notably in Hungary, Poland, and Turkey.
  •  Most interestingly, there are comparisons between Bolsonaro and Duterte of the Philippines. While the two men technically ascribe to different political ideologies, they both actively undermine trusted democratic processes (not unlike President Trump in the United States). 
  • Both individuals have advocated for extreme responses to handle problems. In the Philippines, Duterte’s war on drugs has undermining the judicial system, leading to extrajudicial killings and attacks on citizens. 
  • Moreover, Bolsonaro has agreed to give the Brazilian police wider authority to shoot suspects and use extrajudicial killings as a mechanism for control. Most concerning, these political leaders excel in gaining popularity by making jokes about rape and relying on brutal and misogynistic rhetoric, much like President Trump’s comments about Dr. Ford’s testimony in the Kavanagh hearings. 
  • Experts in the Wall Street Journal argue that Bolsonaro’s rise to power in Brazil is just another manifestation of far-right and populist movements that have “aimed their anger at immigrants and minorities." 
  • In Brazil, many of the upper-middle class white Brazilians feel threatened by the increase in economic standing of the largely black lower-middle class. His rise to power represents the politics of fear, demonizing his political opponents on the left as corrupt and inept.


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