US suspends consular services in Brazil ahead of election showdown

Washington has suspended consular services in Brazil, citing unspecified security concerns, just days before the country's presidential election. Australia took similar action shortly before, closing its embassy in Brazil and also citing security reasons without elaborating.

The move comes amid a fiercely contested race between 80-year-old leftist President Lula da Silva, seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, and 45-year-old Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro. Polling institute Quaest describes the race as tied, with most forecasts pointing to a runoff on 25 October.

Edinho Silva, head of Lula's Workers' Party, dismissed the US decision as making no sense, suggesting it was another attempt by President Donald Trump to sway Brazilian public opinion. Trump, who has backed right-wing gains elsewhere in Latin America, is reportedly following the election closely.

Scandal-driven campaign

The campaign has been dominated by controversies, including false claims that Bolsonaro intended to strip Brazil's patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida, of her status — claims an electoral court ordered removed from social media. Separately, Lula's remarks about men's reluctance to undergo prostate exams were seized on by opponents and spread widely online.

Lula has made national sovereignty central to his campaign, warning Trump against interfering in Brazil's vote. His government has presided over falling inflation and unemployment and a sharp reduction in Amazon deforestation, though voters remain frustrated by the high cost of living and persistent crime.

Bolsonaro, a senator since 2019 who has emerged as a serious challenger, was forced to admit during the campaign that he sought financing for a film about his father from a jailed banker tied to one of Brazil's largest fraud cases, and he is under investigation over the matter. Many of Brazil's 160 million registered voters have expressed disillusionment with both candidates.