The vote of the Brazilians in Spain
According to the National Institute of Statistics, 95,433 Brazilians lived in Spain in 2021. Voting is also compulsory for Brazilians living abroad, and later non-voting complicates other procedures (e.g. passport renewal). Brazilians residing in Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Murcia, Navarra, La Rioja, the Valencian Community and the Basque Country (as well as Andorra) are already voting in Barcelona (Avinguda del Paral·lel, 205, at the Fira de Barcelona); the rest (including residents of the Canary Islands) vote at College Casa do Brasil (Avenue of Remembrance, 3), in the university city of Madrid. Both schools are open until 5 p.m.
Today in Madrid, on a sunny and slightly chilly day, hundreds of people have been coming since early morning to vote at the Casa do Brasil, where they will find a hustle and bustle but (around 11am) few queues. Political polarization was more evident in voters’ attire (some wearing pins and T-shirts indicating their preference for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, others for Jair Bolsonaro). but otherwise a calm and friendly atmosphere.
In the second round of the 2018 elections, 3,917 voters (24.8% of those registered) went to the polls in Madrid. Jair Bolsonaro won with 53.8% of the vote versus 36.15% for Fernando Haddad. In Barcelona, 1,644 voters (39.2%) took part, and Haddad won with 47.4% of the vote over Bolsonaro’s 40.7%.
In the photo: voters in front of the Casa do Brasil college, this morning in Madrid.