‘No to the father, no to the son’: Thousands march in Rio against Bolsonaro

By Al Jazeera Staff and AFP. Published On 7 Oct 20267 Oct 2026.

Key points

• Bolsonaro won 47 percent, ahead of his closest rival, incumbent left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
• Jair Bolsonaro, the former president, led the country from 2019 to 2023.
• Since neither candidate surpassed the 50 percent threshold, they will face each other in a run-off on October 25.
• At present, the former president is serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted of plotting to overturn his 2022 election defeat.
• "I find this rise of the far right and the rise of Bolsonarism in Brazil very, very sad, " remarked Emmanuel Araujo, 19.

Thousands of individuals have taken to the streets of Rio de Janeiro in a student-led protest against presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro and the growing influence of Brazil's far right.

In practice, the march happened on Wednesday, just days after far-right Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, earned the most votes in the first round of the country's presidential race.

Bolsonaro won 47 percent, ahead of his closest rival, incumbent left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. This person gained 45 percent backing.

Notably, the results have triggered fears that Brazil could become the latest Latin American country to see its presidency switch from left to right.

Protesters marched through downtown Rio carrying signs reading "Never again Bolsonaro" and "No to the father, no to the son". Others held banners reading "Dictatorship never again" and "Get out Bolsonaro".

"I'm here since I believe in democracy. Since I'm scared, " stated Alice Carneiro, 25, an administrator in maritime shipping who participated in the protests. She explained that, under a far-right administration, she feared a backlash against her wife. This person is transgender.

Jair Bolsonaro, the former president, led the country from 2019 to 2023. But his single-term tenure was marked by a series of controversies related to his far-right policies.

He voiced backing for Brazil's past military dictatorship. It was responsible for the disappearance and murder of hundreds of perceived dissidents. He additionally spread unfounded claims concerning the accuracy of Brazil's election system, leading to a court ruling that barred him from holding office for eight years.

At present, the former president is serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted of plotting to overturn his 2022 election defeat. After Lula's inauguration in 2023, Bolsonaro's supporters stormed administration buildings in the capital, reportedly hoping to trigger a military uprising.

Critics have framed Jair Bolsonaro's actions as a threat to Brazil's democracy.

But Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has received his father's endorsement, and he has backed amnesty for his father, a prospect that has triggered concern among protesters.

"I find this rise of the far right and the rise of Bolsonarism in Brazil very, very sad, " remarked Emmanuel Araujo, 19. This person is preparing for university entrance exams.

"Lula might not be my preferred candidate, " Araujo continued, "but amid this barbarism, we have to choose between someone we can keep criticising and someone who might take away our right to speak."

For now, 'No to the father, no to the son': Thousands march in Rio remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.