Deep social changes cloud prospects for Brazil’s left

Significance No candidate from the Workers’ Party (PT), led by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the main progressive force in Brazilian politics since the late 1980s, emerged victorious from that vote. Only four reached one of the 15 run-offs scheduled for October 27-- all facing uphill battles. Impacts Conservative groups will continue to make better use of tech-based communications, such as memes and WhatsApp viral group messages. Progressive parties’ failure to recalibrate historical messaging will limit their appeal to many lower-income sectors. The lack of clear political successors to 78-year-old Lula further clouds progressive parties’ future prospects.