Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, chanting slogans against conservative presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro ahead of the October 25 runoff. The mobilization follows a turbulent first round of voting that placed the 45-year-old senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro at the front of the race.
The Wednesday protest outside the Theatro Municipal drew crowds waving large flags bearing slogans such as “Bolsonaro out” and “Never again dictatorship.” The event contrasted sharply with a comparatively muted rally held just days earlier by incumbent left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
“I am here because I believe in democracy. Because I have fear,” Alice Carneiro, a 25-year-old shipping administrator, told AFP at the demonstration, expressing concern for her transgender wife should the conservative faction regain power.
Participants also voiced sharp opposition to Flávio Bolsonaro’s proposed fiscal policies and his stated intention to seek an amnesty or pardon for his father. Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest following a conviction for a coup attempt aimed at retaining power after his 2022 election defeat to Lula.
Protesters highlighted memories of the federal handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during the senior Bolsonaro’s 2019–2022 administration. The pandemic claimed over 700,000 lives in Brazil, making it the second-deadliest national outbreak worldwide behind the United States.
“I am a black woman and I think we will lose our rights if we elect Bolsonaro again. We will end up losing our democracy,” said 16-year-old participant Iara Pinheiro.
Financial markets reacted immediately to the first-round results, with the São Paulo Stock Exchange surging as investors anticipated a shift toward fiscal conservatism. Flávio Bolsonaro has signaled plans for steep government spending cuts, alongside legislative reforms backed by a newly strengthened conservative majority in Congress.
| Candidate | Political Alignment | Key Campaign Proposals |
|---|---|---|
| Flávio Bolsonaro | Conservative / Right | State downsizing, tax reform, presidential pardon for Jair Bolsonaro |
| Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva | Left | Democratic protection, mobilization via digital networks |
Further demonstrations are scheduled across Brazil as the campaign enters its final fortnight before the October 25 runoff.
