Lula and Bolsonaro hold final rallies before tight Brazil runoff

A CNT/MDA poll released Saturday places Flavio Bolsonaro at 46.3 percent and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at 45 percent, setting the stage for a closely contested runoff on Sunday. The margin of error is 2.2 percentage points. This final data point suggests the race remains within statistical striking distance as the two candidates conclude their campaigns.

The campaign has been defined by sharp contrasts and bitter rhetoric. Lula, the 80-year-old incumbent seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, has positioned himself against Bolsonaro’s close ties to the United States. In contrast, Bolsonaro has focused on economic discipline and public safety, pledging to add hundreds of thousands of prison places and cut government spending. The stakes extend beyond Brazil, as a Bolsonaro victory would align the nation with a wider regional shift to the right.

Lula addressed supporters at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. He wore a red hat and waved a Brazilian flag from a campaign truck as crowds filled the area. He pointed to his rival’s relationship with US President Donald Trump, stating that people must choose between someone who kisses the national flag or someone who kisses the American flag.

Bolsonaro held his own final rally in Minas Gerais. Hundreds of motorcyclists wearing Brazil’s yellow national football shirts participated in the event. Ebert Dorigo, a supporter, told the news agency AFP that Lula’s Workers’ Party had encouraged dependence on government welfare. He argued that Brazil is divided because welfare policies have left some people unable to grasp that improvement comes through hard work. Dorigo said the values they uphold are nation and family.

The final debate on Friday featured a calmer tone than previous exchanges, though the candidates still traded accusations over economic difficulties and their respective records. Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio’s father, is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Lula. His shadow looms over the current race, particularly regarding the country’s political future.

Voters face a difficult choice between two polarizing figures. Gabriela Ribeiro Viana, an event organizer, described the dilemma to AFP. She stated that if there were another candidate, it would be a better option, but voters are stuck choosing between the worst and the lesser evil.

Voting takes place on Sunday. The result will determine whether Lula remains in office or whether Flavio Bolsonaro assumes the presidency. The outcome will also signal the direction of Brazil’s political alignment in the coming years.