Washington, D.C. — On Sunday, voters in Brazil and Serbia rejected authoritarian candidates. In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won reelection, defeating right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, an ally of President Donald Trump. In Serbia, nationalist strongman Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat in a general election that pitted his right-wing party against a student-led opposition movement. In response, Damian Murphy, senior vice president for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
These election results show the power of voters to combat corruption and autocracy. In Brazil, Lula’s victory was a clear choice by voters for an agenda responsive to working people’s needs on affordability, cost of living, and democracy. In Serbia, a student-led coalition led a successful effort to end years of corruption and closing space for civil society under Vucic. The historic turnout was also a firm reminder of the strength of the ballot box as a force for change.
These results are another example of the limits of Donald Trump’s ability to push far-right ideology around the world. Additionally, these results signal the strength of democratic movements and actors working to push back against corruption and elevating the candidates and parties focused on the grim economic reality affecting families across the globe.
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