Brazil Runoff Tightens as Bolsonaro Gains Endorsements

· Politics · Brazil

Brazil's right-wing presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro secured the backing of veteran lawmaker Ronaldo Caiado on Tuesday as he moved to consolidate support from first-round rivals before a tight runoff. Caiado and Romeu Zema, two right-wing politicians who ran against him in Sunday's first-round vote, endorsed him for the runoff against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva later this month. Flávio Bolsonaro said US President Donald Trump's remarks about Brazil's election showed Lula's growing isolation on the world stage. Lula's campaign is scrambling to rebrand and engage millions of Brazilians who did not vote, according to people close to the campaign. Analysts noted Brazil has moved progressively to the right over the last two decades.

Why it matters：A rightward shift in Latin America's largest economy could reshape its domestic policy and its international alignments at a time of global polarization.

Key points

  • Flávio Bolsonaro won endorsements from Caiado and Zema for the runoff against Lula.
  • He said Trump's remarks on Brazil's election showed Lula's growing isolation.
  • Lula's campaign is rebranding to engage millions who did not vote.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day