A 101-year-old Brazilian woman, who hadn’t voted in nearly a decade, defied mobility challenges to cast her ballot in a pivotal presidential runoff, rejecting the far-right candidate in favor of the leftwing opponent. Her decision reflected a broader trend of older voters playing a decisive role in shifting the election’s balance against the far-right candidate, whose father had previously led the country. For Soares, the act marked both a rare outing and a defiant stand against political extremism, underscoring the election’s high stakes. The story highlights how personal stories and voter turnout can reshape national outcomes.
Older voters praised for helping tip balance in leftwing president’s favour against far-right Flávio Bolsonaro in runoffIt had been nearly a decade since Celia de Oliveira Soares last voted, and months since the 101-year-old great-grandmother last left her home.But on 25 October, when Brazil held what many considered its most important presidential election in decades, relatives helped Soares into a wheelchair and drove her to a nearby school to make sure the far-right candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, did not prevail. Continue reading...
