Center-Right Forces Prevail in Brazil’s Municipal Elections 2024
Center-right and right-wing parties have reaffirmed their dominance since the first round and are positioned to wield greater negotiating power for the 2026 elections amid the polarization between Lula and Bolsonaro. Oct 27, 2024 Photo: EFE
October 27, 2024 Hour: 9:44 pm
Center-right and right-wing parties have reaffirmed their dominance since the first round and are positioned to wield greater negotiating power for the 2026 elections amid the polarization between Lula and Bolsonaro.
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Brazil: Polling Stations Close on Second Round of Municipal Elections
In the runoff of Brazil’s municipal elections, significant defeats were recorded for the Workers’ Party (PT) of Lula da Silva in key cities, including Porto Alegre, Natal, Cuiabá, and São Paulo.
The Liberal Party (PL) of Jair Bolsonaro also faced setbacks in Curitiba and Goiânia. However, in a notable turn of events, Igor Normando, a candidate backed by Lula’s ministers, won in Belém, the Amazonian capital and host of COP30 in 2025, defeating the bolsonarista Eder Mauro.
Additionally, Fuad Noman was reelected as mayor in Belo Horizonte, overcoming another bolsonarista candidate, Bruno Engler. Despite these isolated victories, the runoff results indicate a significant setback for the left.
In Fortaleza, Evandro Leitão (PT) achieved a narrow victory with 50.38% of the votes against his bolsonarista opponent, marking the only win for the PT among the six contested mayoralties this Sunday.
In São Paulo, current mayor Ricardo Nunes, supported by Bolsonaro, was reelected with 59.4% compared to 40.5% for leftist candidate Guilherme Boulos. In direct contests between the PT and PL, both parties ended up with two mayoralties each.
In Natal, bolsonarista Paulinho Freire won against PT’s Natalia Bonavides after concealing his support for Bolsonaro during the campaign. In Porto Alegre, conservative Sebastião Melo defeated PT’s Maria do Rosário despite criticism over his management during severe flooding in the city.
Center-right and right-wing parties have reaffirmed their dominance since the first round and are positioned to wield greater negotiating power for the 2026 elections amid the polarization between Lula and Bolsonaro.
Analysts suggest that Lula’s defeat in these municipal elections was foreseeable due to his government’s focus on political alliances, leading to what can be seen as a preemptive loss.
Autor: MLM
Fuente: Nacho Lemus - André Vieira
