Thousands march in Rio against Flávio Bolsonaro

Thousands of demonstrators marched through downtown Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, October 7, protesting Flávio Bolsonaro’s presidential candidacy after he led Brazil’s first-round vote. The rally came ahead of an October 25 runoff against incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with both candidates short of the majority needed to win outright. Students and other protesters moved through the city center, chanting and carrying signs invoking democracy and opposing another Bolsonaro presidency. Reports described the crowd as thousands, without providing a precise estimate. Some demonstrators wore red, while others carried Brazil’s yellow-and-green colors, which one protester said she wore to reclaim symbols associated with Bolsonaro supporters. The first-round results put Flávio Bolsonaro ahead with 47.03% of valid votes, compared with 45.16% for Lula. The rounded figures were reported as 47% and 45%. Neither candidate passed the 50% threshold, sending the contest to a runoff. Protesters described their opposition in personal and political terms. Alice Carneiro, 25, said she feared a far-right government could lead to a backlash against her transgender wife.