Brazilian evangelical leaders back Bolsonaro ally in push against Lula's leftist agenda
Pastor Silas Malafaia and other evangelical figures are campaigning for Flávio Bolsonaro, linking ultra-right politics with Pentecostal support to challenge Lula da Silva.
Silas Malafaia, leader of one of Brazil’s largest Pentecostal churches, is actively promoting Flávio Bolsonaro as the candidate who will restore a pre-Lula order. Evangelical voters, now around 31% of the population, have grown into a powerful political force, with the Frente Parlamentar Evangélica occupying about 40% of seats in Congress. This bloc helped elect Jair Bolsonaro in 2018 and was instrumental in Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment.
While the evangelical bloc is not monolithic, most members endorse traditional right-wing positions such as anti-abortion and opposition to gender ideology. Their rise mirrors similar evangelical political gains in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Chile and elsewhere in the region, where they have shaped elections and policy debates.
Why it matters
The evangelical-ultra-right coalition could determine Brazil’s political direction and influence the broader balance of power in Latin America.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 Lula runs ultra-cautious campaign as poll gap with Bolsonaro narrows
- Sep 13 A new poll released in early September records Bolsonaro at 46% and Lula at 45% in a hypothetical runoff.
- Sep 25 President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed an order banning online betting in Brazil, a move that takes effect immediately but needs congressional approval within 120 days.
- Sep 28 The ban is now subject to a 120‑day congressional review.
- Oct 2 Presidential debate scheduled for Oct 1 was cancelled after the electoral court barred Lula’s participation and Bolsonaro withdrew.
- Oct 4 Both candidates held final campaign rallies, with Lula ending his bid in São Paulo and Flávio Bolsonaro leading a motorcycle convoy in São Paulo state.
- Oct 4 Alcohol dependence in Portugal has almost quadrupled over the past ten years, with only a fifth of sufferers receiving treatment, and Brazil prepares for a closely fought presidential vote.
- Oct 4 First round of Brazil’s presidential election was held.
- Oct 4 First round of voting produced no candidate with over 50%, making a runoff likely.
- Oct 5 First‑round results show Flávio Bolsonaro ahead with 47.1% and Lula at 45%, triggering a runoff on Oct 25.
- Oct 5 Senator Flavio Bolsonaro said the recent vote gave the right a dominant majority in Brazil's Senate and Chamber of Deputies.
- Oct 6 Flavio Bolsonaro secured a first‑round victory, making him the runoff frontrunner.
- Oct 9 Augusto Cury announced he will vote for Bolsonaro in the runoff.
- Oct 10 Former Minas Gerais governor Romeu Zema and former President Michel Temer publicly endorsed Flavio Bolsonaro.
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