13-09-2018: Latin American Weekly Report

It has been a tumultuous week for Brazilian politics, even by the country’s current standards. On 6 September, far-right presidential frontrunner Jair Bolsonaro was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery after being stabbed during a campaign rally. Five days later, on 11 September, the leftist Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) made its long-awaited announcement that Fernando Haddad would replace former president Lula da Silva (2003-2011) as the party’s presidential candidate. Both events have increased the unpredictability of Brazil’s presidential election on 7 October.