Jair Bolsonaro

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro waves to supporters at the Liberal Party's headquarters in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, March 30, 2023. 

The future of Bolsonaro in Brazil remains uncertain

Leaders

Former President Jair Bolsonaro is back in Brazil after a three-month hiatus in Florida. Allies say he’s ready to fight the new government. But Bolsonaro faces a string of lawsuits that are working against him.

Felled trees on Karipuna territory in the Amazonian state of Rondônia.

Lula empowers Brazil’s Indigenous peoples with their own ministry. But environmental protection remains a key concern.

Environment
Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, speaks at the COP27 UN Climate Summit, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. 

At COP27, Lula promises to resume Brazil’s ‘leading role’ as a climate defender

Climate Change
crowd with flags

‘We want democracy’: Lula’s supporters celebrate his victory over Bolsonaro for the presidency in Brazil

Elections
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva celebrates with his wife Rosangela Silvaand running mate Geraldo Alckmin after defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a presidential run-off to become the country's next president, in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Brazil’s Lula to reclaim presidency after beating Bolsonaro

Elections
women voters

How Brazil’s first lady is playing a role in the fight for the evangelical vote in the presidential election 

Sacred Nation

Evangelicals now make up a third of the population of Brazil. And their votes could be decisive in this weekend’s tight presidential election. Michelle Bolsonaro, wife of the incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, is doing her part to get out the vote — especially among women. 

people rally for Lula

Brazil election puts fate of public education in the spotlight 

Education

In the runoff election in Brazil, there are two very different visions for the future of public education. Incumbent Jair Bolsonaro has steadily been making cuts. While his challenger, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, vows to expand it. That’s what he did when he ran the country in the 2000s, and in northeastern Brazil, voters feel their very livelihoods depend on his return.  

Children play in a flooded area of Leticia, Colombia, Feb. 14, 2017, located by the Amazon River, on the border with Brazil and Peru.

Brazil’s neighbors wary of environmental impact of a Bolsonaro victory

Environment

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has promised to continue facilitating mining and agro industry in Brazil’s portion of the Amazon if he wins another four-year term. But destruction of the Amazon affects the air quality and jeopardizes the water supply in neighboring countries.

A demonstrator dressed in the colors of the Brazilian flag performs in front of a street vendor's towels for sale featuring Brazilian presidential candidates, current President Jair Bolsonaro, center, and former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Bra

Lula battles Bolsonaro for chance to defend the poor again in Brazil

Two presidents are battling for power in Sunday’s elections. Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is hoping to unseat current far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. 

Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro wave Brazilian flags during a motorcycle campaign rally in Pocos de Caldas, Brazil

Tense atmosphere as voters head to the polls in Brazil’s most diverse elections ever

Elections

Brazilians will vote in presidential elections on Sunday. They will also vote for a host of other government officials. This year, more Indigenous people, women and Black candidates are running for office than ever before.