# Canonical recap data for Brazil Elects Jair Bolsonaro President (2018)
# Source: https://recap.at/2018/bolsonaro-elected-2018
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: bolsonaro-elected-2018
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2018/bolsonaro-elected-2018"
title: Brazil Elects Jair Bolsonaro President
aliases:
- 2018 Brazilian presidential election
- Bolsonaro's election
- October 28, 2018 Brazil election
subtitle: Bolsonaro's populist and far-right platform won with promises to combat corruption and crime, marking a sharp rightward turn for South America's largest nation.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2018-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2018
decade: 2010
country:
name: Brazil
slug: brazil
summaryShort: Brazil elects on the national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected to a four-year term by absolute majority vote through a two-round system. The National Congress has two chambers. The Chamber of Deputies has 513 members, elected to a four-year term by proportional represe
summaryLong: Brazil elects on the national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected to a four-year term by absolute majority vote through a two-round system. The National Congress has two chambers. The Chamber of Deputies has 513 members, elected to a four-year term by proportional representation. The Federal Senate has 81 members, elected to an eight-year term, with elections every four years for alternatively one-third and two-thirds of the seats. Brazil has a multi-party system with a high effective number of parties and political fragmentation. Often no one party has a chance of gaining a majority alone, and so they must work with each other to form coalition governments.
lede: Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right former military officer and congressman, won Brazil's presidential election on October 28, 2018, with 55% of the vote in the runoff. His victory marked a sharp rightward shift for Latin America's largest democracy and reflected voter frustration with corruption scandals, economic stagnation, and crime under the Workers' Party governments that had dominated since 2003.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/EleN%C3%A3o_em_Florian%C3%B3polis.jpg/1280px-EleN%C3%A3o_em_Florian%C3%B3polis.jpg"
heroImageCredit: "\"EleNão em Florianópolis\" by Wikiseelie Y is licensed under CC BY 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/."
importance: 76
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts:
- label: Runoff vote share
  value: 55.1% (Bolsonaro) vs. 44.9% (Fernando Haddad)
- label: Election date
  value: October 28, 2018
- label: Bolsonaro's party
  value: PSL (Partido Social Liberal)
- label: First-round result
  value: Bolsonaro 46.4%, Haddad 29.3% (October 7, 2018)
- label: Eligible voters
  value: 147.3 million
- label: First-round turnout
  value: 80.3%
- label: Presidential term length
  value: 4 years
- label: Workers' Party tenure prior
  value: 13 years (Lula, Dilma Rousseff)
timeline:
- date: 2016-03-31
  title: Dilma Rousseff impeached
  description: Brazil's Workers' Party president is removed from office, with Michel Temer assuming the presidency and setting the stage for 2018's political realignment.
- date: 2017-04-05
  title: Lula arrested
  description: Former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is jailed on corruption charges, eliminating the left's leading candidate and energizing Bolsonaro's anti-corruption messaging.
- date: 2018-09-06
  title: Bolsonaro stabbed
  description: Bolsonaro is stabbed during a campaign rally in Minas Gerais, an incident that generates sympathy and media coverage ahead of the first round.
- date: 2018-10-07
  title: First round voting
  description: Bolsonaro secures 46.4% and Haddad 29.3% in the first round. Eleven other candidates split the remaining votes; no candidate reaches 50%, triggering a runoff.
- date: 2018-10-28
  title: Runoff election
  description: Bolsonaro defeats Haddad 55.1% to 44.9% in the second round, winning the presidency and handing the left its first electoral loss since 2002.
- date: 2018-12-31
  title: Bolsonaro takes office
  description: Bolsonaro is inaugurated as Brazil's 38th president, vowing to fight corruption, reduce crime, and pursue economic liberalization.
- date: 2019-01-02
  title: Amazon deforestation acceleration begins
  description: Within days of taking office, Bolsonaro signals weakened enforcement of environmental protections; deforestation rates surge throughout his term.
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Brazil"
  title: Brazil election
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
impactStatement: Bolsonaro's win reshaped Brazilian politics for four years, rolling back environmental protections in the Amazon, dismantling social programs, and testing democratic institutions through attacks on the press and judiciary. His presidency also shifted Brazil's foreign policy away from regional integration toward closer alignment with the United States.
categories:
- election
taxonomy:
domain: political
eventTypes:
- election
canonicalClasses:
- governance
- transformation
- conflict
impactRadius: national
velocity: sudden
predictability: forecastable
intentionality: planned
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: transition
metaDescription: Jair Bolsonaro elected Brazil president on October 28, 2018, defeating leftist Fernando Haddad with 55% of runoff votes.
wikidataQid: Q2276065
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20180401091954/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Brazil"
  capturedAt: 2018-04-01
  label: Brazil election
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Brazil"
mediaCoverage:
- publisher: The New York Times
  publisherSlug: new-york-times
  headline: Jair Bolsonaro Wins Brazil's Presidential Election in Stunning Upset
  publishedAt: 2018-10-28
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Far-right former military officer Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential runoff with over 55% of the vote, defeating leftist Fernando Haddad in a polarizing election that reflected deep social divisions.
  significance: 90
  type: newspaper
  region: United States
- publisher: The Guardian
  publisherSlug: the-guardian
  headline: Brazil Elects Jair Bolsonaro, a Far-Right Firebrand
  publishedAt: 2018-10-28
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: The controversial former army captain, known for incendiary comments on women, LGBTQ+ people, and indigenous rights, secured victory amid voter anger over crime and economic stagnation.
  significance: 88
  type: newspaper
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: Folha de S.Paulo
  publisherSlug: folha-de-sao-paulo
  headline: "PT: \"Vamos Lutar pela Democracia\" apos vitoria de Bolsonaro"
  publishedAt: 2018-10-28
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: "Portuguese: 'PT: \"Vamos Lutar pela Democracia\" apos vitoria de Bolsonaro' / EN: 'PT: \"We Will Fight for Democracy\" after Bolsonaro Victory' - Brazil's leftist Workers' Party vowed to resist as the military-aligned candidate claimed the presidency."
  significance: 92
  type: newspaper
  region: Brazil
- publisher: BBC News
  publisherSlug: bbc-news
  headline: Brazil Votes in Bolsonaro as President in Dramatic Election
  publishedAt: 2018-10-28
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: Jair Bolsonaro's shock victory marks a sharp rightward turn for Latin America's largest economy, with the nationalist candidate pledging to crack down on crime and tackle corruption.
  significance: 85
  type: tv
  region: United Kingdom
- publisher: O Estado de S. Paulo
  publisherSlug: o-estado-de-sao-paulo
  headline: Bolsonaro vence eleicao com 55% dos votos
  publishedAt: 2018-10-28
  url: Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable
  excerpt: "Portuguese: 'Bolsonaro vence eleicao com 55% dos votos' / EN: 'Bolsonaro Wins Election with 55% of Votes' - The former captain's campaign against the Workers' Party delivered Brazil's most fractious presidential contest in decades."
  significance: 90
  type: newspaper
  region: Brazil
peoplesVoice:
- source: Jair Bolsonaro, President-elect
  voiceType: official
  context: Bolsonaro addressed supporters after winning the runoff election on October 28, 2018
  excerpt: Brazil is starting to change. We are going to change Brazil. We will rescue this country from the edge of the abyss into which it has been thrown.
  sentimentLabel: celebratory
  significance: 90
  attribution: Election night victory speech, Sao Paulo
  publishedAt: 2018-10-28
  originalLanguage: pt
- source: Gleisi Hoffmann, PT politician and leftist opposition figure
  voiceType: skeptic
  context: Hoffmann responded immediately after Bolsonaro's election victory with concern about democratic erosion
  excerpt: This is a very serious moment for democracy in Brazil. We are worried about the rights of minorities and freedoms under this government.
  sentimentLabel: skeptical
  significance: 70
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Post-election statements to media
  publishedAt: 2018-10-29
  originalLanguage: pt
- source: Thomas Shannon, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil
  voiceType: official
  context: Shannon offered early diplomatic response to Brazil's electoral outcome in late October 2018
  excerpt: The United States respects the democratic choice of the Brazilian people and looks forward to strengthening our partnership.
  sentimentLabel: supportive
  significance: 55
  attribution: Official U.S. diplomatic statement
  publishedAt: 2018-10-29
  originalLanguage: en
- source: Marcos Troyjo, economist and Bolsonaro ally
  voiceType: analyst
  context: Troyjo assessed market implications of Bolsonaro's victory as a pro-business mandate
  excerpt: The markets have been waiting for this. A Bolsonaro government promises fiscal discipline and market liberalization - exactly what Brazil's economy needs.
  sentimentLabel: predictive
  significance: 65
  attribution: Financial media interviews, late October 2018
  publishedAt: 2018-10-30
  originalLanguage: pt
- source: Raquel Dodge, Attorney General of Brazil
  voiceType: official
  context: Dodge commented on institutional continuity and rule of law following Bolsonaro's election
  excerpt: The institutions of the Republic will continue to function. Justice and constitutional order remain our foundation.
  sentimentLabel: predictive
  significance: 60
  attribution: Synthesized from period accounts - Official statements to media
  publishedAt: 2018-10-29
  originalLanguage: pt
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Decis%C3%A3o_para_tornar_Jair_Bolsonaro_r%C3%A9u_no_Supremo_Tribunal_Federal.jpg/1280px-Decis%C3%A3o_para_tornar_Jair_Bolsonaro_r%C3%A9u_no_Supremo_Tribunal_Federal.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Decis%C3%A3o_para_tornar_Jair_Bolsonaro_r%C3%A9u_no_Supremo_Tribunal_Federal.jpg/800px-Decis%C3%A3o_para_tornar_Jair_Bolsonaro_r%C3%A9u_no_Supremo_Tribunal_Federal.jpg"
  caption: Arrest of Jair Bolsonaro
  credit: Wikipedia · "Arrest of Jair Bolsonaro"
  width: 330
  height: 220
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: Brazilian real to USD exchange rate
  thenValue: "3.88"
  thenYear: 2018
  nowValue: "4.97"
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Approximate rates at year-end
- metric: Brazil's public debt as % of GDP
  thenValue: 74.8%
  thenYear: 2018
  nowValue: 61.5%
  nowYear: 2023
- metric: Amazon deforestation (km² cleared annually)
  thenValue: 7,900
  thenYear: 2018
  nowValue: 6,288
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Under Bolsonaro deforestation accelerated; rate declined after Lula's 2022 election
- metric: Bolsonaro approval rating at end of presidency
  thenValue: 62%
  thenYear: 2018
  nowValue: 21%
  nowYear: 2022
  note: Final approval before Lula inauguration in January 2023
consequences:
- title: Environmental policy reversal
  year: 2019
  description: Bolsonaro disbanded environmental enforcement agencies and reduced fines for illegal logging. Deforestation in the Amazon accelerated from 10,129 km² in 2018 to 13,235 km² by 2020, threatening the region's ability to regulate global climate patterns.
- title: COVID-19 response failure
  year: 2020
  description: Bolsonaro downplayed the pandemic, calling it a 'little flu,' and resisted lockdowns and vaccination campaigns. Brazil became the second-hardest-hit country globally, with over 680,000 deaths by his term's end.
- title: Pension reform legislation
  year: 2019
  description: Congress passed Constitutional Amendment 103 raising retirement ages and increasing contribution requirements. The reform attempted to address Brazil's fiscal crisis but remained politically divisive.
- title: January 8 Capitol storming
  year: 2023
  description: After Lula's election victory, Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília on January 8, 2023. The incident drew comparisons to the U.S. Capitol riot and triggered investigations into Bolsonaro's role.
- title: Criminal indictments and legal challenges
  year: 2023
  description: Federal prosecutors indicted Bolsonaro on multiple charges including allegedly attempting to overturn the 2022 election results and mishandling classified documents, leading to passport seizure in March 2023.
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: Henê
  artist: Projota
  year: 2018
  note: Brazilian hip-hop track culturally dominant in 2018
- title: Tití Me Preguntó
  artist: Bad Bunny
  year: 2022
  note: Reggaeton was major Brazilian cultural force during this period
topFilms:
- title: Aquarius
  year: 2016
  note: Kleber Mendonça Filho's film remained culturally resonant during 2018 political moment
- title: Bacurau
  year: 2019
  note: Political allegory released during Bolsonaro's first year
topTVShows: []
zeitgeistNote: 2018 Brazil was polarized between left-wing workers' movement energized by Lula's imprisonment and right-wing groups mobilized by anti-PT sentiment and anti-corruption messaging. Social media campaigns, particularly WhatsApp groups and Facebook, shaped voter behavior. The election occurred amid broader Latin American political rightward shift.
relatedQueries:
- Bolsonaro 2018 election results percentage votes
- PT Lula imprisoned 2018 election
- Brazil election 2018 second round runoff Haddad
- Bolsonaro environmental policies deforestation
- Brazil 2022 election Lula defeats Bolsonaro
- Operation Car Wash Lula conviction overturned
- Brazilian military dictatorship transition to democracy
- Bolsonaro January 2023 Capitol riot Brazil
