PoliticsHow ‘Lula’s Army’ WhatsApp channel helped turn Brazil’s election around

With polls pointing to defeat, a WhatsApp channel supporting Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s re-election campaign grew to 10.8 million followers. Led by Congressman André Janones, it urged supporters to share videos, promote hashtags and recruit voters. Lula’s allies credit it with helping fuel his comeback, though political scientists say its direct effect on votes is impossible to establish and stress the role of grassroots mobilisation.

Brazil electionLulaWhatsApppolitical mobilization

BBBC News★★★☆☆2026-10-26 15:37Original