The Americas | A tense final week

Brazil’s election is tight ahead of a run-off on October 30th

That can be seen most clearly in Minas Gerais, the bellwether state

Oct 27th 2022|FRANCISCO SÁ, MINAS GERAIS

After the first round of Brazil’s presidential election on October 2nd an audio message circulated on WhatsApp in Francisco Sá, a town of 25,000 in the poor, arid backcountry of Minas Gerais state. In it Mário Osvaldo Casasanta, the town’s mayor, attributes the improving fortunes of the town to Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s right-wing populist president. Because of federal money, he says, “we have new sidewalks.” Because of monthly payments to poor families, “our shops are packed.” But the town’s future hinges on the result of a run-off on October 30th between Mr Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a leftist former president. A victory by Lula, as he is known, would bring economic ruin, the mayor claims. “Schools will close. Hospitals will close…I’ll close city hall.” That could put 1,323 people out of a job.

This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “A tense final week”