An estimated 2,000 students demonstrated in Rio de Janeiro on October 7, 2026, against President Flavio Bolsonaro and the possibility of Brazil’s far-right returning. Carrying placards, lighting flares, and chanting slogans, the students called for support for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the presidential runoff on October 25. One phrase stood out: “No to the father, no to the son.” It stood for their opposition to Flavio Bolsonaro and his father, ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who continues to influence the election.
The protest followed Brazil’s first-round election on October 4, where Flavio Bolsonaro beat Lula. The 45-year-old senator from the Liberal Party is the eldest son of Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right president of Brazil from 2019 to 2022. Neither candidate was able to poll more than half the valid votes needed for a second round. Flávio’s victory surprised many on the Brazilian left, and encouraged Lula supporters to converge before the final vote.
Students played drums, fired bonfires, and sang “Never Again Bolsonaro”, more packed and enthusiastic than Lula's rally on the same spot the previous Friday. The protests were not primarily about a show of support for one candidate but also about democracy, human rights, and the political course that could follow if another Bolsonaro were elected president.
Many remained bitter over the memory of Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency, and their opposition to his son’s campaign, especially for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bolsonaro had called the illness “a little flu”, but by the end of 2015, more than 700,000 people had died in Brazil, the second-highest figure after the United States. Demonstrators remember the government’s rejection of vaccines and the threat families face.
Alice Carneiro, a 25-year-old ship administrator, was at the march to protest what a victory by far-right politicians would mean for democracy and individual rights. She was particularly worried about backlash against her transgender wife. She demonstrated that for some Brazilians, the election was about more than politics. They were afraid that a change in government would mean that people already discriminated against would have their lives in danger.
“No to the father, no to the son” was the slogan carried by 16-year-old Iara Pinheiro, voting for the first time in a presidential election. Being a black woman, she feared that a second Bolsonaro presidency would mean the loss of rights and sever Brazilian democracy. Referring to her father and son, her placard connected the lessons of Brazil under Jair Bolsonaro with concerns about Flavio’s leadership.
Education and public spending were also issues discussed at the march. Flavio Bolsonaro has promised drastic budget cuts, using a pair of scissors during his campaign in comparison to the chainsaw used by Argentine President Javier Milei, whose reforms he lauded, and has spoken about slashing the size of the state and modernizing Brazil’s tax system.
Promises of higher education that his father did not fund bothered students, as they remembered cuts made during his presidency. Protesters highlighted cuts to federal universities, research scholarships and Farmacia Popular, which provides free or discounted medicines. Emmanuel Araujo, a 19-year-old preparing for university entrance examinations, wondered why he should pass the exam if the university did not have enough funding. Young people who planned to enter higher education were left in uncertainty.
Flavio's attempts to try and win amnesty for his father were also criticised by demonstrators. Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years behind bars for allegedly trying to get back in power after losing the 2022 presidential election. Many felt the issue of amnesty would reduce accountability for those who tried to sabotage democracy. "Granting amnesty for coups gives the green light for new coups," read one placard. For the demonstrators, allowing Jair Bolsonaro to escape his sentence would be a dangerous message about contesting an election result.
Both candidates began to reposition their campaigns ahead of the runoff. Flavio Bolsonaro worked to form political alliances and promote ideas to cut government spending and overhaul taxes. He also promised to seize the power of the right in Congress to amend the constitution. Lula, seeking a fourth non-consecutive term at nearly 81 years old, turned to social media, where the right always had an advantage. He posted a selfie on Wednesday and urged supporters to talk to voters directly.
The student march was one of several pro-democracy protests planned before the runoff, but its participants had concerns other than the candidates. Memories of the pandemic, anxieties about education funding, concerns about minorities’ rights and resistance to political amnesty influenced their responses to the election.
The words “No to the father, no to the son” captured the protest's central message. Students were rejecting not only Flavio Bolsonaro's presidential bid but also the possibility of continuing the political direction associated with his father. With Brazil preparing for a closely watched runoff, the march showed how strongly young demonstrators wanted their concerns about democracy, equality, and public services to influence the country's future.
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