Brazilian opposition to stage protests against President Jair Bolsonaro

Widespread protests against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are expected to begin today.

Urged by the leaders of left-wing opposition parties, thousands of Brazilian of citizens are expected to turn out to protests in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and the capital city Brasilia. Spurred by the nationwide September 7 pro-Bolsonaro rallies—which sought to cast doubt on the integrity of next year’s presidential elections—today’s demonstrations will likely protest President Bolsonaro’s COVID-19 response and low overall vaccination rates.

This series of protests is seen by analysts as a preview for next year’s elections and will act as a litmus test for President Bolsonaro’s popular support. Recent polling shows former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva—whose prior corruption convictions were annulled in March, setting the stage for a 2022 run—as the clear favorite to beat Bolsonaro and regain the presidency. While the October 2022 elections are over a year away, it is likely that Lula’s polling will continue to trend up, contrasting Bolsonaro’s dropping numbers. Thus, expect Bolsonaro to continue casting doubt on the election’s integrity in an attempt to retain power, likely spurring an uptick in large protests in Brazil’s major cities.

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