Black and poor women may decide who will be the next president of Brazil
In the run-up to the country’s first fully democratic election since the overthrow of communist rule by the military, black and poor women in particular are stepping up the stakes on candidates for national president.
While the presidential vote was a symbolic event, the women are now making crucial decisions, including choosing their own candidate.
The race is a fight between the charismatic former president of the Workers’ Party Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 63, and the more traditional conservative candidate, former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the 78-year-old former head of Brazil’s Social Security.
Lula has a commanding lead with 26% of the votes, according to official figures.
But some analysts say that could hinge on the support of low-income women who don’t usually show up at polls.
Some analysts say that will affect the race.
“The election is going to determine who will become president of Brazil,” says Carlos Stolari, an economist at the National Statistics Institute.
There are more than 15 million female voters, while male voters make up nearly 70% of the electorate.
In a country where politics can be divisive, the female electorate could turn out in greater numbers.
In April, a group of female candidates backed by the women’s movement called for greater political participation by women because of their poor economic conditions.
The campaign in 2005 caused a political earthquake when voters flocked to the polls in record numbers, but turnout by women was far lower.
The candidates were supported by political groups and trade unions, and they fought against the influence of powerful politicians who often take on the same image.
Lula, as he was the first president of the republic, is the man the poor and black voters are backing.
He was voted in by a narrow margin over the conservative president, who defeated him by an electoral majority. Lula was later elected president with 52% of the vote, far ahead of his traditional conservative rival, who won 29%. The Socialists fell to second place, with 26% of the vote.
Now, it is Lula’s turn to decide whether his supporters will
