Brazil’s right-wing remains as ambitious as ever

The Brazilian judiciary is pressuring former conservative president Jair Bolsonaro and his followers as much as possible, not least to discredit him, his ideas, and his party.

However, the Bolsonarist movement remains the most robust popular network in Latin America and likely the most significant in the country’s history.

That is why, with a year to the elections, Bolsonaro’s PL party (Liberal Party) aims high. They want to win up to 1,500 mayoral seats across Brazil.

This benchmark was almost reached by the center-right MDB party before. Party President Valdemar Costa Neto revealed the plans.

A strong team will lead the campaign. The first election round is set for October 6, 2024.

In 2020, PL secured 349 mayoral spots. This marked an increase of 52 since 2016.

On the other hand, MDB led the pack with 797 mayors but saw a drop compared to previous counts.

Other conservative parties, such as the PP and PSD, followed with 701 and 662 mayors, respectively.

PL has national importance, but it lags in major cities. They won only two big cities in the 2020 elections.

In contrast, PSDB dominates larger areas with 18 cities. MDB, PSD, and the new União Brasil follow with 16, 10, and 10 cities.

Costa Neto expressed confidence on social media.

He stated, “We’re growing fast in Brazil. With strong allies and political support, we’ll secure many more mayoral seats next year.”

However, PL’s growth comes with challenges. With Bolsonaro as the face of PL, alliances could become tricky.

Costa Neto once sided with PT governments but now must align with Bolsonaro’s policies.

Brazil is gearing up for an important election. It will decide the leadership for 5,568 cities and nearly 58,000 council seats.

In total, 152 million Brazilians are eligible to vote. The first round is on October 6, 2024, and a second round could follow on October 27.

Background Brazil’s right-wing

The upcoming election has both local and global implications. At the local level, more mayors from PL could shift municipal policies significantly.

Such a win could indicate a return to right-leaning governance in many cities.

Comparatively, MDB’s historical dominance may be waning, signaling a changing political landscape.

Globally, the rise of PL could be seen as part of a larger trend.

Right-wing parties are gaining ground in several countries, including the United States and parts of Europe.

If PL succeeds, it might encourage similar parties abroad.

Ultimately, the 2024 election could be a bellwether for future political dynamics, both in Brazil and internationally.