Brazil Presidential Elections Project 2022-2023

NUPRI-USP & IMAKAY RESEARCH HUB

Project Coordinator
Dr. Daniel Oppermann (NUPRI/USP & Imakay Research Hub)

Selected Publications
Processo eleitoral no Brasil: percepção e análise na imprensa portuguesa
Do inédito ao inerente: o ecossistema da política brasileira atual
Porque o maior parceiro comercial do Brasil não foi citado nos planos de governo dos candidatos à presidência
Fake news e comportamento eleitoral
Como temáticas de Política Externa foram abordadas por candidatos à Presidência do Brasil em 2022

[Click here for more EL22 publications in English and Portuguese.]

Project Description

Brazil’s upcoming presidential elections are set for October 2022, with current polls indicating that incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro and former president Lula da Silva are the two frontrunners. Since taking office in 2019, Bolsonaro has had a contentious relationship with various democratic institutions and actors, showing distaste for checks and balances like the free press and using mostly social media to communicate his political ideas. Bolsonaro considers himself a representative of traditional and Christian values, but has also verbally legitimized violence and torture and mobilized supporters against democratic institutions.

Lula da Silva, on the other hand, is Bolsonaro’s political opponent and previously served as Brazil’s president from 2003 to 2011. During his tenure, Brazil enjoyed strong economic growth and established itself in the international multilateral system. Despite positive feedback from numerous governments around the world, Lula’s reputation was tarnished by corruption allegations against him and members of his government and the private sector. He was later arrested and sentenced to a long prison term in a controversial trial, but released after less than two years.

The current presidential elections are taking place amidst a weakening of democratic processes and structures in various parts of the democratic world. The USA are suffering from undemocratic tendencies leading the country to the brink of a violent coup attempt. Europe is facing a political and economic crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. At the same time, South America is experiencing a resurgence of progressive or centre-left forces, as seen in recent presidential elections in Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. However, the global restructuring currently taking shape as a result of Russia’s break with the West will pose challenges also to Brazil’s new government.

The NUPRI-USP and IMAKAY RESEARCH HUB project aims to accompany the electoral process in Brazil and provide information on the election, candidates, and inauguration in January 2023. A research group consisting of academics from different fields will monitor the process in various parts of the country. The results will be available in Portuguese, English, and German language.