# Lula supporters’ WhatsApp channel helped mobilise voters in Brazil run-off

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/how-lulas-army-whatsapp-chat-helped-turn-brazil-election-around/
- Published: 2026-10-26T15:37:33+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-26T15:57:21+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwz0vg4v3ndeo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Americas, Elections, Politics, Software, Technology, World

## Key points

- Lula’s Army WhatsApp channel reached 10.8 million followers.
- Allies say it helped Lula’s campaign gain momentum.
- Analysts credit both online and grassroots mobilisation.

## Summary

A WhatsApp channel called Lula’s Army was credited by allies with helping Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reverse a polling deficit and win Brazil’s presidential election run-off. Led by Congressman André Janones, it organised supporters to circulate campaign videos and hashtags, marking a notable challenge to conservatives’ perceived dominance of online political mobilisation.

The channel grew to 10.8 million followers between the two rounds, using ready-made messages and specific tasks to encourage sharing and voter recruitment. Janones also hosted a 24-hour livestream on the eve of the vote; Lula later thanked him as “our General”. Political scientists cautioned that the channel’s direct effect on votes cannot be measured, and pointed to the combined role of digital campaigning, grassroots activity and changes in Lula’s message.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.