Bahia violence threatens Lula's political stronghold

Escalating street violence and gang warfare in the Brazilian state of Bahia are posing a significant political challenge for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bahia has long been a stronghold for Lula’s Workers' Party (PT), which has governed the state since 2006 and secured 72 percent of the vote there in 2022.

However, rising levels of gang and police violence have led to a decline in support for the PT in recent polls. The death of 33-year-old Evilásio Santos da Silveira Júnior in Salvador has highlighted these tensions. While police claim he died in crossfire between rival gangs, his family maintains he had no gang affiliations and accuses state forces of killing him during an unprovoked raid.

Critics argue the administration has failed to curb the flow of weapons and drugs or invest sufficiently in education to address the root causes of the violence. Both Lula and his political opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro, have promised to improve security as the upcoming elections approach.