It was destined to be a presidential election campaign of dramatic outcomes. Celebrating 30 years of democracy, Brazilians took to the polls this week in their millions. But set against a background of economic crisis, mass unemployment and political scandal ¨C not to mention anger, which culminated in the frontrunner being stabbed ¨C the results of the first round of voting left the Brazilian population more divided than ever.

Right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro ¨C who continued the last month of his campaign from his hospital bed after being attacked while campaigning on 6 September ¨C took 46 per cent of the vote in the first round on 7 October, and is the favourite to take the presidency ahead of left-winger Fernando Haddad in the second round on 28 October.

A former paratrooper and a self-professed admirer of Donald Trump, Mr Bolsonaro has gained followers for his strong stance on tackling crime and corruption, which he says have ¡°swamped¡± Brazil. But his failure to give much attention to science or universities in his campaign has left academics reeling ¨C and preparing for the worst.

Adriana Marotti de Mello, professor of business at the University of S?o Paulo, said that the current funding situation for Brazilian research was critical. ¡°This year¡¯s budget for National Research Council [Brazil¡¯s major public funding body, known as?CNPq] was the lowest in 13 years,¡± she explained. ¡°Science, technology and education are historically neglected in Brazil, but since 2016 the situation has become dangerous.¡±

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The reason so many in the sector are particularly fearful of a Bolsonaro presidency, Professor Marotti de Mello continued, comes from an agreement made by his party¡¯s finance spokesman to continue to freeze spending ¨C intensifying the real-terms cuts that are already causing research institutions to close.

According to Fabio Zicker, a specialist in science, technology and innovation in global health at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a biological sciences research institute in Rio de Janeiro, the outlook for science and higher education could be bleak regardless of who wins. There is ¡°not much detail from either of the two leading candidates¡±, he explained.

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While Mr Bolsonaro¡¯s Social Liberal Party has made reference to stimulating entrepreneurship and?privatising public sector?organisations including universities, his competitor has made equally vague promises to ¡°recover the level of funding to education and other sectors¡­by being more efficient¡±, he said.?

But for many, the problems run deeper than financial hardship; Mr Bolsonaro¡¯s lack of commitment for science and research may be concerning, but it is the other policies he has thrown weight behind that raise more questions.

The ¡°Schools Without Political Party¡± initiative ¨C known as the ¡°gag law¡± by its opposers ¨C was drafted as legislation in 2016 in response to fear that teachers were abusing their teaching freedoms by spreading political views. The Institute for Development and Human Rights ¨C a non-governmental organisation with United Nations consultative status ¨C said at the time that the initiative ¡°attacks basic human rights¡±, namely the ¡°right to freedom of expression and thought¡±.

According to Professor Marotti de Mello,?Al¨¦ssio Ribeiro Souto, the Social Liberal Party¡¯s education adviser and another former military man, last year said that he would censor books?that did not tell the ¡°truth¡± about Brazil¡¯s former military regime. The drafted law is currently being considered in the federal government¡¯s Legislative Assembly and, according to one academic who asked not to be named on account of ¡°what might happen in the next few years¡±, there is strong consensus that the initiative could be expanded to university-level teaching.

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¡°This is a conservative project with a goal to remove any kind of teaching they consider left-leaning, whether it truly is or not,¡± he said.

Those who remember the country under military dictatorship might be forgiven for feeling paranoid about a return to dictatorship values. But younger generations appear equally worried. Frederico Dourado Morais, professor of pedagogy at the State University of Goi¨¢s, said a right-wing presidency would signal not only a ¡°step backwards¡± in terms of progress, but present barriers to those wishing to access higher education in a country where the social mobility gap is particularly high.

¡°Higher education in Brazil is still an exclusive and elitist space¡­Bolsonaro¡¯s government plan, his proposals and his speeches in public spaces show total ignorance of this reality. He represents a backwards step, both in terms of access, retention and graduation [of students] as well as the quality of scientific production in the country,¡± Professor Dourado said.

For some, the academic career prospects in the country have simply become too bleak.?¡°It is very sad, but I do not see any positive future for Brazil,¡± said Professor Marotti de Mello. ¡°I have a tenured position, but many students, especially postgraduates, are facing unemployment or looking for jobs below their qualification.¡±

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She added: ¡°I am talking to lots of friends in academic areas who have plans to leave Brazil if Bolsonaro wins and successfully implement his plan. I am myself looking for research projects in Europe.¡±

rachael.pells@timeshighereducation.com