Brazil campaign enters final week with rival rallies

Brazil’s presidential campaign has intensified with rival political rallies taking place across the country, just one week before voters head to the polls.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, are the leading contenders in the October 4 election. Campaign events for both candidates have drawn supporters in several cities as they seek to mobilise voters ahead of the first round. 

Lula held a campaign walk in São Paulo on Saturday, while Bolsonaro took part in two motorcycle rallies in Rio de Janeiro. On Sunday, Lula’s campaign organised more than 500 events across Brazil as the final week of campaigning began. 

Recent polls show a closely contested race. A Datafolha survey published on September 24 put Lula ahead of Bolsonaro by 47% to 45% in a simulated runoff, while other recent polls have shown the two candidates statistically tied. 

If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote in the first round, a runoff is scheduled for October 25.

- MaT