Lula, Flávio Bolsonaro Hold Dueling Election-Eve Rallies in Brazil
Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro drew thousands of supporters at rival rallies before Sunday's runoff, with nearly 159 million Brazilians eligible to vote and polls tied.
The story in focus
Brazilian presidential candidates Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro held dueling election-eve rallies on Saturday ahead of Sunday's runoff. Nearly 159 million Brazilians are eligible to vote. Polls show the race tied, with a CNT/MDA survey putting Bolsonaro at 46.3% and Lula at 45%, within the 2.2-point margin of error.
- Lula rallied supporters at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro and later on Paulista Avenue in São Paulo.
- Flávio Bolsonaro held a rally in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, a key bellwether state.
- A CNT/MDA poll released Saturday showed Bolsonaro at 46.3% and Lula at 45%, within the margin of error.
- The runoff follows a first round on October 4 in which Bolsonaro won 47% to Lula's 45%.
- Nearly 159 million Brazilians are eligible to vote in Sunday's election.
Final Campaign Push
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro held rival rallies on Saturday, the final day of campaigning before Brazil's runoff election. Lula addressed supporters at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, where Rio's City Hall estimated a crowd of about 1.1 million, and later attended a rally on Paulista Avenue in São Paulo.
Bolsonaro's supporters gathered in Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais state, which has Brazil's second-largest electorate. The state is considered a key bellwether, with no presidential candidate ever winning without it.
Polling and Stakes
A CNT/MDA survey released Saturday showed Bolsonaro with 46.3% support and Lula with 45%, within the poll's 2.2 percentage-point margin of error. In the first round on October 4, Bolsonaro won 47% to Lula's 45%.
Lula is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term. Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has pledged to tackle crime and cut government spending. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election.
When is Brazil's runoff election and how many people are eligible to vote?
Brazil's runoff election is on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Nearly 159 million Brazilians are eligible to vote, according to The Guardian.
Sources & further reading
- Brazil’s Lula, Bolsonaro draw thousands to election-eve rallies ↗Al Jazeera
- More than one million Lula supporters rally on eve of Brazilian election runoff ↗The Guardian
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