Kuala Lampur, Oct. 25 -- Brazil's presidential election on October 25, 2026, is more than a contest between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. It is another important test of the direction of contemporary politics, where the political right has acquired increasing influence across several regions of the world.

For Asean, the implications deserve serious scrutiny.

Brazil may be geographically distant from Southeast Asia, but the ideological currents shaping its politics are not.

Nationalism, economic insecurity, political polarisation, hostility towards established institutions and dissatisfaction with traditional political parties are increasingly visible across...