New Delhi, Oct. 5 -- Editor's note (October 5th 2026): After first-round elections Flavio Bolsonaro won around 47% of the vote and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva around 45%. There will be a run-off on October 25th

FEW COUNTRIES are as lucky as Brazil. It faces no threat of invasion. Its economy is more resilient to Donald Trump's senseless tariffs than almost anywhere else. It enjoys relatively friendly relations with both superpowers. Above all, it is awash with coveted resources.

Yet as Brazil gears up for a general election on October 4th, an old adage, that it is the country of the future and always will be, once again rings true. Instead of capitalising on its advantages, Brazil is all but certain to opt for another four years of polari...