Brazil held general elections to choose a new president on October 2. In the second round of voting, former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva defeated Jair Bolsonaro. In 2018, Jair Bolsonaro won the presidential election. He is the first president of Brazil to lose the vote for a second term. 

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Formerly, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva worked as a metalworker and a unionist. He originally attempted to run for presidential election in 1989, 1994 and 1998 were he lost. He was elected in 2002 and was even re-elected in 2006. Under his direction, the GDP increased and 20 million Brazilians were lifted out of poverty. While the minimum wage and average income rose and more people had access to higher education, and health care, there was a considerable decline in poverty, inequality, illiteracy, unemployment, infant mortality, and child labour rates. 

In a controversial trial in July 2017, Lula was found guilty of money laundering and corruption and given a nine and a half-year prison term. He spent 580 days in jail for not having enough evidence, which prevented him from participating in election. Later, the Supreme Court freed him because his trial was biased.

Under the Bolsonaro administration, the judge who gave him a prison term eventually became minister of justice and public security, raising concerns about the president and the legal system.

Promises made by Lula before the elections

In order to help poor families, he has suggested increasing the minimum wage, reforming the food assistance programme, and providing 28 dollars for every child under the age of six.

He views his administration as the economic, technological, and commercial apex of history. That will return, he swears. preservation of the Amazonian forest will be priority.

Jair Messias Bolsonaro

Jair Messias Bolsonaro is a retired military officer. He was elected as 38th president of brazil in 2018. He's a far right winger, his statements and views have received both praise and criticism. He consider family values as utmost important. He is a opponent of same-sex marriage, homsexuality abortion affirmative action, drug liberalisation and secularism. 

The economy recovered and crime rates significantly decreased under his leadership. But he was the first president who was rejected by majority in his first year.

Promises made by Bolsonaro before the election

He promised to cut taxes, create jobs, lower unemployment, and provide $115 to the less fortunate. He pledged to uphold family values and said he was against homosexuality and abortion. He pledged to bring laws to combat crime.

Jair Bolsonaro received 58,206,354 votes while Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received 60,345,999. We can see that there are still a lot of people who favour the conservative far-right side if we look at the differences between votes.

Bolsonaro was defeated as a result of his handling of COVID 19. According to the smaller population, Brazil's death rate was high while other nations were recovering. GDP declined but never fully recovered following the outbreak. Losses could not be recovered by policies. These mistakes confirmed Bolsonaro's defeat. While Lula is regarded as the most well-known leader in history.