The demonstration came after far-right Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, outperformed polls to finish first in the initial round of voting on October 4. Incumbent left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva placed second with 45 percent support. Since neither candidate surpassed the 50 percent threshold required to win outright, they will face each other in a runoff on October 25.
Protesters carried signs reading "Never again Bolsonaro," "No to the father, no to the son," "Dictatorship never again," and "Get out Bolsonaro" as they marched through downtown Rio.
Alice Carneiro, a 25-year-old administrator in maritime shipping who participated in the protest, said she was motivated by fear for her wife, who is transgender. "I'm here because I believe in democracy. Because I'm scared," she said, expressing concern about the potential consequences of a far-right government.
Emmanuel Araujo, a 19-year-old student preparing for university entrance exams, described the rise of the far right as "very, very sad." "Lula might not be my preferred candidate, but amid this barbarism, we have to choose between someone we can keep criticising and someone who might take away our right to speak," he said.
Jair Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2023, was convicted of plotting to overturn his 2022 election defeat and is currently serving a 27-year sentence. After Lula's inauguration in 2023, Bolsonaro's supporters stormed government buildings in the capital, reportedly hoping to trigger a military uprising. A court ruling also barred the former president from holding office for eight years after he spread unfounded claims about the electoral system.
Critics have framed Jair Bolsonaro's actions as a threat to democracy. Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has received his father's endorsement and has backed amnesty for him, a prospect that has raised concerns among protesters.