Amid widespread speculation about a coup attempt, the Biden administration pressured politicians and generals to respect the result
As Brazil prepared to hold a presidential election last October, many governments around the world viewed the vote with a mounting sense of foreboding.
The far-right incumbent, Jair Bolsonaro, was openly flirting with subverting the country’s democracy. He attacked the electoral process, claiming that the electronic voting machines used by Brazilian authorities were unreliable and calling for a paper ballot instead. He constantly hinted at the risk of the election being stolen, echoing claims made by Donald Trump in the US.
But in the end, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s win in October was accepted without serious challenge by Bolsonaro and the veteran leftwing politician was inaugurated on January 1.