Choosing More than a President – What Is at Stake in Brazil’s Runoff?

On October 25, Brazilians will choose between Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro in a presidential runoff that polls describe as a statistical tie. Much more than a choice of political spectrum is at play in what might be the most crucial election for Brazilian democracy since its redemocratization in the mid-1980s. The result will likely have major repercussions for the social rights of marginalized groups, Brazil’s ability to guide and benefit from its economic development as a sovereign nation, and the survival of its democracy as we know it.