Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro Split Crowds in Final Day of Brazil Campaign

A CNT/MDA poll released on Saturday places the Brazilian presidential race within 1.3 percentage points, with Flavio Bolsonaro at 46.3 percent and incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at 45 percent. The margin of error for the survey is 2.2 points. This result follows a similar poll from one week earlier that showed Bolsonaro leading 46.8 percent to 45.9 percent. The data indicates the contest remains statistically tied with votes cast on Sunday.

The campaign concluded on Saturday with large gatherings in two separate regions. Lula, 80, addressed hundreds of supporters on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. He stood on a campaign truck waving a Brazilian flag while wearing a red hat. He contrasted his record with his opponent's foreign ties, telling the crowd, "The people must choose either someone who kisses the national flag or someone who kisses the American flag." Lula seeks a fourth non-consecutive term in office.

Flavio Bolsonaro, the senator and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, held a rally in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. The event featured hundreds of motorcyclists wearing the yellow national football jerseys. Ebert Dorigo, one of the participants, spoke to the news agency AFP about the need for political change. He stated that the Workers' Party had encouraged reliance on government welfare. "The values we uphold are nation and family," Dorigo said. He argued that some citizens have failed to grasp that achievement comes through hard work.

The two candidates met in a final debate on Friday. They adopted a calmer tone than in previous exchanges but continued to trade accusations regarding economic records. Bolsonaro has pledged to add hundreds of thousands of prison places and cut government spending. His father, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, is currently serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election.

Gabriela Ribeiro Viana, an event organizer, described the difficulty of the choice facing voters. She told AFP that if another candidate were available, it would be the better option. "But we're stuck choosing between the worst, the horrible, and the lesser evil," she said. The runoff will determine whether Lula remains in office or Brazil shifts further toward the right alongside other regional trends.

Voters will cast their ballots on Sunday to resolve the tie. The first round ended with Bolsonaro taking 47 percent of the vote and Lula securing 45 percent. Recent surveys confirm the gap has narrowed since that initial result. The election will decide the next head of state in South America's largest economy.