Brazil in September 2026: the most important developments in politics
In Brazil in September 2026, politics was dominated by the presidential election between President Lula and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, with the first round still ahead at month end. Polls showed the two close throughout. A Quaest poll in early September put Lula's runoff lead at one point, down from eight; on September 14 another Quaest poll had Flávio at 42% and Lula at 40%, the first time Flávio was ahead since April. By September 28 polls had Lula ahead in the first round, at 39% to 34% in one survey and 40% to 36% in another, with the runoff tied at 42% in one and Lula at 46% to 44% in another. Lula raised Bolsa Família payments on September 17, and a court ruling later found the increase did not violate electoral law. On September 25 and 26 his government banned betting sites, which rivals called electioneering and which betting companies challenged in the Supreme Court. Record cancelled a first-round debate after both candidates declined, and on September 30 Lula said he would skip Globo's final debate before the first round.
A crisis at the Supreme Court ran alongside. It began with revelations about messages between Justice Alexandre de Moraes and banker Daniel Vorcaro of Banco Master. On September 8 Justice André Mendonça suspended Federal Police Director-General Rodrigues, a move Lula criticized. The court cancelled plenary sessions, and on September 13 Justice Edson Fachin took over cases against Jair and Eduardo Bolsonaro that Moraes had handled. Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro traded accusations over the crisis.
A second line of inquiry concerned Flávio Bolsonaro. On September 11 the Supreme Court opened an investigation, ordered by Mendonça, into money laundering and corruption allegations tied to financing of the film Dark Horse, examining transfers from Vorcaro. Federal police investigated a fund that received money from Vorcaro, and messages on Vorcaro's phone showed conversations with Flávio Bolsonaro. Lula's chief of staff was reported to have discussed the Master case with Vorcaro's lawyer, and Lula said he believed in the innocence of his son Lulinha and his former chief of staff while defending the investigation.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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