Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Brazil’s Right-Wing Congressional Gains Strengthen Bolsonaro Camp Before Runoff
Brazil held elections for Congress at the same time as the first round of its presidential election.
The Liberal Party, which is home to Flavio Bolsonaro’s presidential bid, gained many seats.
Flavio Bolsonaro also advanced to a runoff against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Other right-leaning parties are expected to hold many seats too.
Together, they could make it harder for Lula to pass laws.
Flavio Bolsonaro has said he wants amnesty for his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a prison sentence.
A supportive Senate could help him pursue that goal.
The final presidential contest will take place in a runoff.
The Liberal Party, home to Senator Flavio Bolsonaro’s presidential bid, won 28 Senate seats, up from 15.
The party was projected to win 121 seats in the lower house, compared with 98 currently.
Flavio Bolsonaro won the most votes in the presidential first round and advanced to a runoff against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Right-leaning parties and blocs were projected to hold close to 250 lower-house seats and more than 30 Senate seats combined.
The results could make governing harder for Lula, while an allied Senate could help Flavio Bolsonaro pursue amnesty for his father.
- Who
- The Liberal Party, Flavio Bolsonaro, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and other Brazilian parties.
- What
- Congressional elections gave the Liberal Party the largest single-party representation in both chambers, while Flavio Bolsonaro advanced to a presidential runoff.
- When
- The congressional elections and presidential first round were held on Sunday; the runoff was scheduled for October 25.
- Where
- Brazil.
- Why
- The elections renewed congressional seats and held the first round of the presidential contest; the resulting congressional balance could affect governing and Flavio Bolsonaro’s stated amnesty goal.
Lula and Workers’ Party
Bolsonaro-aligned right
Congressional influence and governing
Lula and Workers’ Party
The Workers’ Party increased its congressional presence, but analysts cited in the report say a strong right-wing bloc could make governing and legislative progress difficult for Lula.
Bolsonaro-aligned right
The Liberal Party and allied center-to-right parties gained substantial representation, giving the bloc greater influence in Congress.
Amnesty for Jair Bolsonaro
Lula and Workers’ Party
The report describes Jair Bolsonaro as serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted of plotting a coup; it does not state a position from Lula or his party on the proposed amnesty.
Bolsonaro-aligned right
Flavio Bolsonaro aims to grant amnesty to his father, and an allied Congress, particularly the Senate, could help him pursue it.
Supreme Court justices
Lula and Workers’ Party
The article notes that the Supreme Court convicted Jair Bolsonaro and that Congress has previously rejected a Lula Supreme Court nominee.
Bolsonaro-aligned right
The report says the pro-Bolsonaro Senate bloc may approach the 54 votes needed to impeach the justices who convicted the former president.
- Liberal Party Senate seats
- 28, up from 15
- Liberal Party lower-house seats
- Projected 121, up from 98
- Workers’ Party Senate seats
- 9
- Workers’ Party-led lower-house bloc
- Projected 88 seats, up from 82
- Right-leaning parties and blocs
- Projected close to 250 lower-house seats and more than 30 Senate seats combined
- Congressional seats renewed
- All 513 lower-house seats and two-thirds of the 81 Senate seats
- Presidential runoff
- Flavio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; scheduled for October 25
- Jair Bolsonaro’s sentence
- 27 years for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election, according to the report