Brazil's Presidential Election: A Choice Between Left-Wing Leadership and Growing US Influence

The results of the Brazilian elections will determine whether the growing influence of the United States in Latin America will be stronger or the left-wing leadership will remain strong. Polls and pre-results showed a tight race between the two candidates. Lula, a veteran left-wing ideologue, has been in the news for some time now for his outspoken opposition to US President Donald Trump. His election rival Flávio Bolsonaro, who leans toward the United States and has been a Trump ally. Flávio, the son of jailed former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, won more than 2.2 million votes in the first round of the election earlier this month. However, more than 30.3 million people did not vote in a country with nearly 160 million voters, while voting is mandatory in Brazil. Lula and Flávio's views on issues such as relations with the United States, climate change, and social welfare are very different from each other. Flávio's victory in Latin America and his right-wing allies in Chile and Peru is the biggest in recent years.