‘This is a lethal threat’: Indigenous groups fear Bolsonaro’s hold on voters in Brazil’s Amazon towns

Key Points:

• In Brazil's northern state of Roraima, far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro secured strong support, particularly in the Amazon town of Mucajaí, where nearly 79% voted for him, largely due to hopes of reviving the illegal gold mining industry that was cracked down on by the incumbent Lula government.
• The illegal gold rush, which flourished under Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency, devastated the Yanomami Indigenous territory with environmental destruction and health crises, prompting Lula to launch a crackdown viewed as a "genocide" prevention effort by Indigenous leaders.
• Bolsonaro’s potential return to power alarms Indigenous leaders and environmentalists, who fear a resurgence of illegal mining and a rollback of protections, with concerns of increased violence and threats to Indigenous culture and survival.
• Evangelical Christian support and Bolsonaro’s tough stance on crime also contribute to his popularity in Roraima, where many voters align with his conservative social values and desire for economic opportunities linked to mining.
• Indigenous activists and leaders, including Yanomami representatives, strongly oppose Bolsonaro and vow to resist any attempts to undermine Indigenous rights and environmental protections, warning of potential conflict if he wins the presidency.