Earlier this week, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s team felt compelled to make an unusual statement: No, the left-wing presidential candidate had not made a pact with the devil, it said on Instagram. After all, more than eight million people follow the politician on the photo portal. Lula also never spoke to the devil, it was written: “He believes in God and is a Christian”. And as if any evidence was needed, above it was a picture of the 76-year-old, hands piously folded in prayer.
About three weeks from now, runoff elections for the presidency will take place in South America’s largest democracy. The vote on October 30 is considered the most important in the country’s recent history, alongside left-wing former President Lula da Silva, right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro is also standing. Almost every means is used to fight, and it has long been clear that whoever wants to win not only has to have the better arguments on their side, but also God – or rather: the churches of the huge country.
Brazil has more than 210 million inhabitants, many of whom are still deeply religious. Nowhere else in the world are there more Catholics and even if their number has been declining for decades, the proportion of people who are members of an evangelical church is increasing at the same time: they already make up around a third of the population.
Former Brazilian President and left-wing Workers’ Party (PT) candidate Lula da Silva (l) during a campaign rally in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. If you want to win, you not only have to have the better arguments on your side, but also God – or rather: the churches of the huge country.
(Photo: NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP)
Even in the furthest corners of Amazonia there is usually a church and a temple of one of the Evangelical or Pentecostal communities. In the slums people pray in bare tiled courtyards, in the center of the metropolis in pompous halls that offer space for thousands of believers. What the preachers and pastors say in the services is often also broadcast on their own television and radio stations. The reach of church leaders is huge, and so is their influence, and religion has long since become a power factor in Brazil.
Faith has become a central issue in the election campaign
In 2018, President Jair Bolsonaro probably won the elections mainly because the major evangelical churches supported him and called on their members to vote for the right-wing politician. And now, four years later, faith has become a central issue in the campaign.
“Brazil above all, God above all” is the self-chosen motto of incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil’s president likes to quote Bible verses in campaign speeches. The 67-year-old is Catholic himself, but his wife Michelle is an evangelical Christian. She posts videos online of herself praying in her husband’s office. The presidential palace, he says, is a place previously desecrated by demons. It is clear who is meant by this: Lula da Silva and his left-wing workers’ party PT.
of Brazil first lady sees the Brazilian presidential election as a battle of good versus evil, and many of her husband’s supporters agree. Many believe mass in the church could be banned should the left regain power. A false message that persists.
Jair Bolsonaro (front), President of Brazil who is running for re-election, speaks at the Presidential Residence.
(Photo: Eraldo Peres/dpa)
How far the power of these rumors goes has been seen in the past few days: social media groups and networks loyal to Bolsonaro have been literally inundated with videos and reports claiming that Lula has made a pact with the devil. This may sound like medieval nonsense to outsiders, but for many devout Brazilians such fake news is apparently so plausible that Lula da Silva and his team finally found it necessary to publicly refute the allegations.
Worldly problems recede into the background
At the same time, Lula da Silva himself has long since made religion and faith part of his campaign. At the official start of his election campaign, the left-wing politician said his right-wing opponent was possessed by the devil. Lula posts pictures of herself online showing him with the pope or clergyman. In addition, his followers on social networks are spreading years-old videos and partially manipulated photos showing President Jair Bolsonaro in Freemason lodges. Evangelical churches in particular often mistakenly associate them with alleged satanic rituals. Bolsonaro voters are now venting their disappointment under the posts: some feel betrayed by the president and say he only disguised himself and pretended to be a Christian in order to get votes.
And so Brazil discusses God and the credibility of the two candidates, while actually important and, above all, very secular problems such as deforestation in the rainforest or the fight against hunger recede into the background.