Bolsonaro's son could align Brazil with Trump if elected president
Brazil's presidential runoff election this weekend could see Flávio Bolsonaro, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro, defeat leftist incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a result that would align Brazil more closely with US President Donald Trump. Flávio outperformed expectations in the October 4 first round, capitalizing on widespread discontent with Lula over crime and cost of living, while pitching himself as a moderate alternative to his father. Polls show him with a narrow lead, and analysts expect most votes from eliminated right-wing candidates to flow to him. Trump has maintained close ties with the Bolsonaro family, meeting Flávio at the White House in June, though stopping short of a formal endorsement. A Flávio victory would continue Latin America's conservative shift, potentially reducing Brazil's economic dependence on China and strengthening alignment with US foreign policy narratives.