After a comeback and a win by more than four million votes, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva must now face a hostile Congress, nervous financial markets and an uncertain relationship with Washington. His opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro, has left for the United States, where he is alleging political persecution. Over a political career spanning more than 40 years, Lula has often evolved according to the needs of the moment. This time, will he take a more orthodox approach to the economy, with Brazil’s budget deficit approaching an unsustainable 10% of GDP? Will he bring more conservative figures into his government? And will he try to make peace with the Trump administration? Our guest is Fábio Zanini, editor of Painel, the political column of Folha de S.Paulo.
Guest:
Fábio Zanini is political columnist and editor at Folha de S.Paulo
Host:
Brian Winter is editor in chief of Americas Quarterly
If you would like to know more:
REACTION: Lula Wins Brazil’s Presidency in Historic Comeback by AQ Editors
Brazil: Meet the Candidates 2026 by Emilie Sweigart
Brazil’s Right Will Have Power Beyond the Presidency by Fernanda Magnotta
Trump Pushes the Bolsonaros to the Brink by Brian Winter
AQ Podcast | Brazil’s Scandal-Plagued Election
Political analyst Thomas Traumann on the mudslinging in the Supreme Court, and other factors in the October election
