Brazil: Climate activists applaud the vote of the “Trump of the tropics” Jair Bolsonaro

In a razor-thin victory for new leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, voters kicked out the "Trump of the Tropics" after just one term in a row of a hard-fought battle battle between left and right

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the elections in Brazil (

Image: AFP via Getty Images

Defenders of the Amazon rainforest were overwhelmed with relief after Brazilian Jair Bolsonaro was ousted from office.

In a razor-thin victory for new leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, voters expelled the "Trump of the Tropics" after just one term following a fierce battle between left and right.

In a resounding victory for climate activists, the result was hailed as a crucial tipping point by environmentalists who criticized Bolsonaro's destruction of the Amazon.

"Over the past four years, the Amazon has been threatened, attacked and destroyed as the government openly encourages environmental crimes," says Erika Berenguer of the University of Oxford.

Jair Bolsonaro was removed from office after one term (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

"It was like having to silence a scream inside of you every day as you watched the purpose of your life, your career and your passion destroyed.

"Lula's election is a victory not only for the region but for humanity and life itself."

While right-wing Bolsonaro publicly backed rainforest development, weakened environmental legislation, and funded and drained budget and expertise from major environmental organizations, deforestation reached its highest level in 15 years.

Since he came to power in 2019, the amount of Amazon cleared has increased by more than 75%, and the 13,000 hectares destroyed in 2021 was the largest since 2008.

It was devastating to see firsthand.