ELECTION BRAZIL. If they seek the vote of voters this Sunday, October 30, Lula and Bolsonaro were able to benefit from the support of political figures during the campaign. Some are weighty aides for the presidential election.
From the first round of the presidential election in Brazil, Lula like Bolsonaro received the support of certain political forces. The former head of state and candidate of the Workers’ Party has behind him a coalition of ten parties from the left of the political spectrum to certain center-right formations since the start of the campaign, while the outgoing president has above all united the forces of his far-right party. But it is always during the interval between rounds that rallies gain in importance and weight. On the political side, Lula has won the most new supporters, including several of size, but Bolsonaro is not to be outdone and has Brazilian figures in his camp, including football star Neymar Jr.
The presidential number 3 behind Lula
As soon as the campaign for the presidential election in Brazil resumed, Lula publicly received the support of Simone Tebet, senator from the center right and candidate who came third in the votes on the evening of the first round. The elected explained on October 6 to choose the left-wing candidate “because I recognize in him a commitment to democracy and the Constitution that I do not recognize in the president”. But the position of the politician was not that of her party, the Brazilian Democratic Movement having given no voting instructions for the second round.
Another unsuccessful presidential candidate, Ciro Gomes, also sided with Lula, but more out of opposition to Bolsonaro than out of conviction. The left-wing dissident stressed that he had chosen “the only solution among two unsatisfactory options”. Between them, Simone Tebet and Ciro Gomes obtained 7% of the votes in the first round and it is likely that the majority of these votes will migrate to Lula on October 30. Unless voters prefer abstention. Several political scientists doubt that all voters follow the example of ex-candidates like Renato Dolci who explained on CNN Brazil on October 6 that “public support [et des politiques] is still relevant, but that doesn’t mean we’ll see those votes migrate.” Experts believe, however, that there is even less chance that those voters will turn to Bolsonaro. In addition to the two former candidates, Lula enjoys the support of 15 political parties out of the 32 in Brazil.
Bolsonaro has also received support for the second round of the presidential election, in particular those of elected or re-elected and often very influential state governors. But the outgoing president was above all strengthened by the Bolsonarist wave which pushed several politicians from the conservative right to Congress, so much so that the parliamentary majority found itself on the right.
Bolsonaro strong with Neymar’s support
It is support that we did not expect but which made a lot of noise before the first round and during the inter-rounds of the presidential election: that of the Brazilian football star, Neymar Jr. Before the vote of the first round, the footballer staged himself in a video in which he danced to a song supporting Bolsonaro. The outgoing president thanked the player hoping to see many Brazilians follow this example but obviously the influence of Neymar was not as important as hoped.
Still, Lula did not appreciate the footballer’s support for his rival or was afraid of the effects on the result of the vote and criticized the choice of the football international during an interview granted on October 18 to Flow Podcast. The left-wing candidate spoke of financial arrangements between Neymar and Bolsonaro, including debt reductions with the Brazilian tax authorities: “Neymar has the right to choose who he wants as president. I think he is afraid that if I win the election , I will know what Bolsonaro forgave him (about) his income tax debt. I think that’s why he’s afraid of me.” If he did not have the support of Neymar, Lula secured that of another footballer: the former Seleção player and 1994 world champion, Rai.