Brazil

AQ Podcast | Brazil: Bolsonaro on Trial, Lula Under Pressure

President Lula’s popularity is low and political momentum could move to the right, as Bolsonaro faces trial and seeks international support.

PSD President Gilberto Kassab in Brasília. The Low-Key Power Broker Behind Brazil’s Biggest Party: A crucial figure in the country’s flexible “big center,” Gilberto Kassab pulls the levers of power no matter who’s in office.

Brazil’s Low-Key Operator

Gilberto Kassab is one of the country’s most important behind-the-scenes politicians, worth watching as the 2026 elections draw closer.

REACTION: Bolsonaro Will Stand Trial

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled that former President Jair Bolsonaro will stand trial for attempting a coup. What happens next?

Bolsonaro and the Prisoner’s Dilemma

The former president’s possible arrest would reshape the electoral process into a broader political conflict, challenging the right.

President Trump at his inauguration in Washington, D.C., in Jan. 2025; President Lula at the sanctioning of a bill in Brasília, in Nov. 2024.

Trump and Lula Think Differently. Will They Find Common Ground?

The two leaders have diverging views on the future of BRICS and climate change. What can bridge the gap?

Brazil: A 2025 Snapshot

AQ tracks political and economic trends to watch and key indicators in 2025.

Stefania Bril’s Tender Disobedience

The pioneering street photographer documented 1970s São Paulo with gritty realism, humorous juxtapositions, and deep affection.

The Key to Democratic Stability in Latin America

A new book shows how countries that have an institutionalized party system can weather crises more easily than those that don’t.

121 Years Late, A Brazil-Bolivia Bridge Takes Shape

Promised in a 1903 treaty, the Mamoré International Bridge is set to finally take shape—on a continent increasingly geared toward trade with Asia.

Lula’s “Golden Boy” at the Central Bank

Gabriel Galípolo has ties with the left and the private sector, making him a key bridge-builder at a time of market concerns.

Author Talk: A Clash of Worlds in the Amazon, with Alex Cuadros

On January 15, 2025, AQ hosted a book event with Alex Cuadros in New York.

Bolsonaro May Need His Trump Card

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro still has hopes of running in 2026, and will probably appeal for help from the next occupant of the White House.

Brazil’s Big Moment on the Global Stage Gets Complicated

The G20 summit in Rio was supposed to be a triumph for President Lula, but storm clouds are gathering in global politics.

AQ Podcast | Lula and Brazil’s “Big Center”

An overview of Brazil’s politics and economy following recent municipal elections

Brazil’s BRICS Balancing Act Is Getting Harder

The bloc’s expansion is amplifying its anti-Western tendencies, creating strategic risks for Brazil.