According to the latest opinion figures, far-right candidate Bolsonaro gathers 47 percent of voter support in Brazil, while social democratic PT’s candidate da Silva gathers 53 percent.
Tigran Feiler, SVT’s Latin America correspondent, says that there are several reasons for Bolsonaro’s recovery. One of them is his agricultural policy and his benevolent approach to the exploitation of the Amazon rainforest.
– In large parts of Brazil, they want to see continued investment in the agricultural sector and support continued economic expansion in the Amazon, says Tigran Feiler.
He also points out that Bolsonaro has used the state apparatus in a way that is “unprecedented”.
– Large aid packages have been paid out to poor families, fuel subsidies, loans to buy houses, says Tigran Feiler.
Embodying two sides of Brazil
The two candidates embody two different sides of Brazil, says Tigran Feiler. Bolsonaro is strongest among whites and high-income earners, while da Silva has his strongest strongholds in the African-American part of the population and in the poorer parts of the country.
– If Bolsonaro remains in office, one can expect that much will continue along the same path. The agricultural sector will probably continue to grow and we will see increased economic activity in the Amazon, says Tigran Feiler.
If da Silva becomes Brazil’s new leader, it can be counted on that the country will play a more active role in the international arena and place more importance on climate issues, says Tigran Feiler.
– But regardless of who wins, it will be extremely difficult to react. This is an incredibly difficult country, over 200 million people, where Congress historically has a lot of power. It will take a lot of cow trading to govern, because neither candidate will have their own majority in Congress.
Watch Tigran Feiler’s report from the Bolsonaro stronghold of Sinop in central Brazil in the player above.