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| Brazil 2018 presidential election | |
|---|---|
| Election name | 2018 Brazilian general election |
| Country | Brazil |
| Type | presidential |
| Election date | 7 October and 28 October 2018 |
| Previous election | 2014 Brazilian presidential election |
| Next election | 2022 Brazilian general election |
| Turnout | 79.5% |
Brazil 2018 presidential election The 2018 Brazilian presidential election produced a contentious runoff that elevated a right-wing candidate amid economic turmoil, corruption scandals, and escalating political polarization. The campaign unfolded against a backdrop of mass protests, large-scale investigations, and shifting party alliances that reshaped the Partido dos Trabalhadores era and challenged traditional coalitions. International observers, domestic institutions, and social movements closely watched the contest for its implications across Latin America, the Organization of American States, and global markets.
The election followed the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff and the ascension of Michel Temer from Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro leadership, which intensified debates over legitimacy, fiscal reform, and anti-corruption efforts. The anti-corruption probe known as Operation Car Wash implicated executives at Petrobras, politicians from Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira, Partido Progressista, and Partido dos Trabalhadores, contributing to the conviction of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and legal disputes involving the Supreme Federal Court (Brazil). Economic indicators such as GDP contraction and unemployment spikes during the Brazilian economic crisis of 2014–2016 influenced voter sentiment, while social policy changes from Bolsonaro administration (prospective) opponents energized movements including Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra and Movimento Brasil Livre. Regional dynamics involving Venezuela, Argentina, and United States trade relations also framed foreign policy debates.
Brazil used a two-round system under rules administered by the Superior Electoral Court (Brazil), with mandatory voting for citizens aged 18–70 and optional voting for 16–17 and over 70, and electoral rolls managed by the Tribunal Superior Eleitoral. Candidate registration deadlines, coalition rules, and campaign finance regulations were set by the Electoral Code (Brazil), with televised debates organized by the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters and media conglomerates such as GloboNews, SBT, and RecordTV. The first round on 7 October 2018 narrowed the field to a second-round runoff on 28 October 2018, following precedent from the 1994 Brazilian general election and 2002 Brazilian general election runoffs.
Major candidates included former Army captain Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party (Brazil), former São Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad representing Partido dos Trabalhadores after the disqualification of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, centrist contender Ciro Gomes from Democratic Labour Party (Brazil), and right-wing businessman João Amoêdo of Novo (political party). Campaign narratives were shaped by incidents involving Sérgio Moro, the former judge who presided over Lula's conviction, and endorsements from figures in Força Nacional discourse and retired military personnel linked to Brazilian Army circles. Tactical alliances saw Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira and Brazilian Democratic Movement politicians distance themselves from previous coalitions, while activist networks including Movimento Passe Livre and Frente Brasil Popular mobilized support. Social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and digital advertising firms faced scrutiny over message amplification, while investigative outlets such as O Globo, Folha de S.Paulo, and Veja (magazine) influenced agenda-setting.
Opinion polls from institutions including Datafolha, Ibope, and Instituto Paraná Pesquisa tracked fluctuating support, showing a late surge for Jair Bolsonaro and consolidation of anti-PT voters around Fernando Haddad in the runoff. Debates held by broadcasters TV Globo, BandNews FM, and consortiums of regional stations featured candidates such as Geraldo Alckmin of Brazilian Social Democracy Party and Marina Silva of Rede Sustentabilidade, with performance metrics impacting donor flows from entities like Banco do Brasil affiliates and private campaign committees. Polling controversies involved legal complaints filed with the Superior Electoral Court (Brazil) and methodological disputes over sampling frames by academic centers at University of São Paulo and Fundação Getulio Vargas.
In the first round, votes fragmented among candidates from parties including Progressistas (Brazil), Partido Social Liberal (Brazil), and Partido Democrático Trabalhista, leading to a runoff between Jair Bolsonaro and Fernando Haddad. The runoff delivered a victory for Jair Bolsonaro with regional variations across the Northeast Region of Brazil, Southeast Region of Brazil, and South Region of Brazil. Vote analysis by scholars at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and think tanks such as Igarapé Institute highlighted demographic splits by age, education, and urban-rural divides, with significant shifts among evangelical voters aligned with leaders from Assembleia de Deus, and business community support connected to sectors like Agribusiness and Mining in Brazil. Disaggregated results showed patterns similar to prior contests such as the 2016 Brazilian municipal elections with spatial clustering in metropolitan areas including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte.
The election precipitated cabinet appointments drawing figures from Ministry of Economy (Brazil), including allies of Paulo Guedes, and prompted legislative jockeying in the National Congress (Brazil), where parties like Partido Novo and Social Liberal Party sought committee chairs. Judicial reactions involved appeals in the Supreme Federal Court (Brazil) and international commentary from institutions such as the United Nations and Organization of American States. Policy shifts proposed in the transition affected pension reform debates in the Federal Senate (Brazil), trade negotiations with China and the European Union, and security initiatives referencing strategies from São Paulo State Military Police coordination. Social movements including Levante Popular da Juventude and labor unions like the Central Única dos Trabalhadores organized protests and legal challenges, while academic analyses in journals from Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro examined the election's implications for Brazilian democracy and regional geopolitics.
Category:2018 elections in Brazil