As preparations for a rally unfolded on São Paulo’s Avenida Paulista on the eve of Brazil’s presidential runoff, Bianca Santana interviewed German Social Democratic lawmakers Armand Zorn and Elisabeth Kaiser. They had travelled to observe an election they considered important for European democracy as well. They expected Lula to win, but worried about the possible effects of a Flávio Bolsonaro government on democracy and social and climate policies.
Santana sets their concerns against recent German election results. In 2025, the Social Democratic Party’s vote share fell from 25.7% to 16.4%. The conservative CDU/CSU alliance won 28.5%, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) doubled its share, from 10.4% to 20.8%. The left-wing Die Linke rose from 4.9% to 8.8%, particularly among young voters. The SPD is now part of the government led by conservative Friedrich Merz.
Kaiser linked the AfD’s gains to uncertainty caused by economic change, the war in Ukraine and inflation. She said people who have achieved stability may fear losing it and worry that their children will have worse prospects. The AfD, she argued, channels that insecurity into resentment toward immigrants. Zorn added that the party portrays political leaders as corrupt and claims only the far right can solve the country’s problems.
To counter the far right, the lawmakers called for investment in education, innovation, renewable energy and decent jobs. Condemning authoritarianism alone is not enough, Santana writes; people also need tangible prospects for a better life. She presents this as a lesson for Lula.
The article also examines the role of digital platforms. Kaiser said algorithms help spread provocative, polarizing claims and pointed to Elon Musk’s support for the far right and Mark Zuckerberg’s rapprochement with Donald Trump. Zorn argued that democracy can conflict with the interests of technology companies seeking to maximize profits.
The European Union has moved to regulate large technology companies. Since 2024, it has required greater transparency around advertising and algorithms, as well as measures to protect elections. In December 2025, it fined Musk’s X €120 million over transparency violations. In September, the Trump administration asked to take part in the European court case in which Musk and X are seeking to overturn the fine.
In Brazil, the government and lawmakers are trying to pass a bill by December that would expand the powers of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade) to address anti-competitive practices by major technology companies. Santana notes that the proposal faces opposition from businesses and pressure from the United States.
Brazilian civil society is calling for broader action through the Nosso Digital 2026–2030 document. Its proposals include regulating digital markets and artificial intelligence, auditing algorithms, requiring transparency in content moderation and holding companies responsible for harm. It also calls for limits on behavioral advertising, support for national, free and open technologies, and measures to prevent and remedy racism, misogyny and other forms of discrimination reproduced by platforms, with public participation.
Santana concludes that the challenge described by the German lawmakers is shared across democracies: protecting rights, confronting concentrated power and offering concrete ways to improve people’s lives. Without those prospects, she argues, the far right finds fertile ground.
Sources: Folha Mundo.