Global Election Updates: Brazil & Latvia

2026 Brazil General Election

On October 4, Brazil held general elections for the presidency, governors, the Chamber of Deputies (513 seats), and two-thirds of the Senate (54 of 81 seats). Results across these races reflect Brazil’s deep political polarization, with voters sharply divided between the right and the left.

Brazil’s presidential election will go to a runoff on October 25, after a closely contested first round in which no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote. Flávio Bolsonaro of the right-wing Liberal Party (PL) finished first with 47%, narrowly ahead of incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the center-left Workers’ Party (PT), who secured 45%. The next four candidates together took 7.6% of the vote, and three of them – Augusto Cury, Ronaldo Caiado, and Romeu Zema  – have endorsed Bolsonaro.

In the National Congress, Bolsonaro’s PL emerged as the largest party in both chambers but fell short of securing a majority on its own. In the Chamber of Deputies, the PL won 121 seats, followed by the alliance of the Workers’ Party (PT), the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), and the Green Party (PV), which obtained 88 seats. The remaining 304 seats are distributed among 16 other parties. In the Senate, the PL was already the largest party and increased its representation from 15 to 28 seats. Among those elected were Flavio Bolsonaro’s stepmother, former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro, and his brother, Carlos Bolsonaro. The new legislature will begin its four-year term on February 1, 2027.

2026 Latvia Parliamentary Election

On October 3, Latvia held parliamentary elections to renew the 100 members of the Saeima, with the pro-European United List, led by incumbent Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, winning 35% of the vote. Despite securing the strongest electoral result in decades and winning 41 seats in the Saeima, PM Kulbergs fell short of the 51 seats needed for a majority and will have to form a multiparty coalition. The second-largest parties in the Saeima will be the right-wing populist Latvia First (13% of the vote) and the pro-Russian Sovereign Power/Alliance of Young Latvians (11%). Kulbergs is preparing to form a coalition with pro-Ukraine parties including the National Alliance and New Unity, but formal negotiations have been delayed until October 28.

The election took place amid rising security concerns along Latvia’s border with Russia and Belarus, following several drone incursions. Kulbergs campaigned on strengthening national security, maintaining defense spending at 5% of GDP, expanding anti-drone capabilities, and reducing bureaucracy. Under Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, Latvia is expected to maintain its strong transatlantic ties, and continue supporting Ukraine. As a strategic U.S. ally and frontline NATO member bordering Russia and Belarus, Latvia plays an important role in deterring Russian aggression in the Baltic region.