# Flávio Bolsonaro’s election lead threatens Amazon

> Flávio Bolsonaro’s lead in Brazil’s election risks Amazon collapse.
- Title: Flávio Bolsonaro’s election lead threatens Amazon | Shortify
- Summary: Flávio Bolsonaro’s lead in Brazil’s election risks Amazon collapse. Flávio Bolsonaro’s election lead threatens Amazon deforestation and climate stability.
- Keywords: flavio bolsonaro, brazil, amazon deforestation, lula, presidential election, indigenous rights, bolsenarism, deforestation, climate crisis, brazilian amazon, election runoff, environmental policy
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/flavio-bolsonaros-brazils-election-victory-runoff-lula-climate-amazon-deforestation
- Author: Jonathan Watts
- Published: 2026-10-08T07:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: flavio bolsonaro, brazil, amazon deforestation, lula, presidential election, indigenous rights, bolsenarism, deforestation, climate crisis, brazilian amazon, election runoff, environmental policy
## Flávio Bolsonaro’s election lead
Flávio Bolsonaro, Brazil’s right-wing senator and Liberal Party presidential candidate, won 47 percent of the vote in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election.
## Amazon deforestation at risk
The current administration of Lula has reduced Amazon deforestation by almost 50 percent, but Bolsonaro’s victory would reverse this progress.
## Bolsonaro’s environmental record
Flávio Bolsonaro’s father, Jair Bolsonaro, increased Amazon deforestation by 59.5 percent during his four years in power, destroying 2 billion trees.
## Bolsonaro’s climate policies
Bolsonaro has backed a 2019 bill to eliminate land conservation requirements in the Amazon and ignored the climate crisis in his manifesto.
## Indigenous candidates lose
Out of 57 Indigenous candidates, only two won seats in Brazil’s congress after the election.
## Bolsonarist control grows
Bolsonarists now control seven of the nine states in Brazil’s Amazon and could win an eighth in the runoff.
## Bolsonarist influence in legislature
Flávio’s brother Carlos and mother-in-law Michelle were elected to the senate, while an uncle and brother won seats in the lower house.
## Climate and political risks
The election result threatens Amazon stability, Brazil’s biomes, Indigenous peoples, and global climate stability.
## Why voters ignored climate risks
Social media and US-style Pentecostalism are expanding, reducing environmental awareness among voters.
## Lula’s challenges
Lula faces weakened unions and farmer subsidies that now support right-wing candidates.
## Global implications
Brazil’s election is part of a broader pattern of far-right governments expanding extractivism across the Americas.
## What happens next
If Bolsonaro wins, Amazon deforestation and democracy could collapse, with global climate consequences.
## Key takeaway

Flávio Bolsonaro’s election lead threatens Amazon deforestation and climate stability.