Minas Gerais Emerges as Hotspot in Rising Political Violence Ahead of 2026 Elections
Political violence incidents surged nearly 50% nationwide last quarter, with Minas Gerais leading in attacks against municipal leaders ahead of the 2026 elections.
- • Minas Gerais recorded the highest number of political violence incidents with 23 cases last quarter, 17% of Brazil's total.
- • Brazil experienced a 48.3% increase in political violence cases compared to the previous quarter.
- • Psychological violence was predominant in Minas Gerais, making up 16 of the 23 incidents.
- • Municipal leaders, especially mayors and councilors, are primary victims; Partido Liberal had the most affected leaders.
- • The rise in violence occurs during the transition phase approaching the 2026 elections, before campaign season begins.
Key details
As Brazil nears its 2026 elections, political violence has surged significantly, with Minas Gerais standing out as the most affected state in the last quarter of 2025. According to data from the Observatório da Violência Política e Eleitoral (OVPE) of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the country saw a 48.3% increase in political violence cases compared to the prior quarter. Minas Gerais alone accounted for 23 incidents, representing 17% of the national total — the highest among Brazilian states.
The prevailing form of violence in Minas Gerais was psychological, comprising 16 of the 23 cases, and accounting for 25.4% of all psychological violence nationally during that period. Municipal leaders, such as mayors and councilors, were the primary targets, constituting 75% of victims in Minas Gerais, higher than the national average of 60%. Highlighting the troubling trend, coordinated attacks, including death threats and hate speech, were reported digitally against municipal councilors in Alfenas.
Politically, the Partido Liberal (PL) experienced the most affected leaders, followed by the Workers' Party (PT) and the Progressives (PP). This spike in violence coincides with a political transition phase leading into the election year, even before active campaigns have begun, raising concerns about future escalations.
The data underscores a critical challenge facing Brazilian democracy as the 2026 elections approach, particularly for local politicians vulnerable to violence. Analysts emphasize the need for vigilant monitoring and preventive measures to protect political actors and uphold democratic norms.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
