Mongabay · Climate & nature

Brazil Election Results Raise Concerns for Indigenous Rights

Brazil's general election saw significant gains for right-wing parties in Congress, prompting concerns from Indigenous leaders about the future of constitutional protections for Indigenous peoples.

Dinamam Tuxá, an executive coordinator with the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), described the election outcome as a "bleak moment" and expressed surprise at the results.

The Liberal Party, affiliated with presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, secured a substantial bloc in the Senate, holding 35% of seats starting in 2027. This bloc, combined with other right-wing parties like Progressistas, Republicanos, and Novo, now forms a majority in the Senate.

An analysis by the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI) indicates that these right-wing parties have consistently voted against Indigenous rights, with the Liberal Party voting against these rights in 95.9% of cases, Republicanos at 90.5%, Progressistas at 85.6%, and Novo at 100%.

The presidential election will proceed to a second round on October 25th, with Flávio Bolsonaro facing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Tuxá anticipates that the Federal Senate will actively oppose Indigenous rights, irrespective of the presidential election's outcome.

Despite a record number of 79 Indigenous candidates running for Congress, only three were elected, including Juliana Cardoso, Paulo Guedes, and former Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sônia Guajajara.

The elected Indigenous representatives are expected to play a crucial role in advocating for Indigenous rights within a Congress that has become increasingly anti-Indigenous.

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