Far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro has secured overwhelming support in the Amazon town of Mucajaí and across Roraima state during Brazil’s presidential election, drawing nearly 79% of votes in the settlement. The elder Bolsonaro’s popularity stems largely from voter desire to resume illegal gold mining operations that were curtailed under incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration since 2022.
During the former president Jair Bolsonaro’s tenure from 2019 to 2022, tens of thousands of miners invaded the nearby Yanomami Indigenous territory, introducing disease, mercury poisoning, and destruction to the 32,000 Indigenous inhabitants. Following Lula’s victory in 2022, aggressive enforcement efforts significantly reduced deforestation and halted much mining activity. Local residents credit this crackdown with economic hardship, though Lula’s government characterized mining in Indigenous lands as genocide.
Indigenous leaders and environmental advocates have expressed alarm about a potential Bolsonaro presidency. Yanomami leader Júnior Hekurari warns that a Bolsonaro victory would constitute “a death certificate” for his people, while reports indicate miners have already begun preparations to resume operations following the first-round voting on October 4. Environmental officials fear they will face persecution similar to that experienced under the former Bolsonaro administration.
Support for Bolsonaro extends beyond mining interests. The rapid expansion of evangelical Christianity in the Amazon region has contributed to his popularity among voters who align with his positions on social issues including opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion. Political observers note that evangelical churches have become increasingly influential across Brazil’s agricultural frontier communities.
The runoff election would determine control of a region where pro-Bolsonaro governors are poised to dominate, with congressional representation also shifting toward politicians less favorable to Indigenous rights and environmental protections. Conservation advocates warn that policy shifts could have catastrophic consequences for both the Yanomami and the broader Amazon ecosystem.
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