Thousands of Brazilians living in Ireland will return to the ballot box tomorrow, taking part in Brazil’s second-round presidential vote from abroad as the fiercely fought contest reaches its climax.
The run-off comes after a tight first round in which former president Jair Bolsonaro’s son Flavio won 47% of the vote, edging the current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who drew 45.2% support among voters.
Under Brazil’s electoral system, a candidate must secure 50% of the votes to be elected president.
With neither contender clearing that threshold in the opening round, the election is now widely expected to rank among the closest presidential races in the country’s recent history.
For many Brazilians who have made their lives in Ireland, the stakes have turned the campaign into an everyday talking point, spilling from social circles into workplaces and community spaces.
At Toca Tapioca House in Temple Bar, manager Bruna Mainart said politics has become a topic difficult to avoid in the lead-up to polling day.
Watch our video to hear from Brazilians living in Ireland as they prepare to vote in one of the most significant elections in Brazil’s recent history
