Rallies, opinion polls and a final debate - Brazil gets ready for Sunday's knife-edge presidential election

By Anna Kirchheim Published on 24/10/2026 - 19:54 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Lula against Flavio - both candidates in the second-round presidential election in Brazil hold rallies in major cities on the last day of campaigning. With around 20% of the electorate having abstained in the first round, the result is wide open and opinion polls show them neck and neck. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro rally their supporters one last time on Saturday, converging on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and closing a fraught election campaign one day after a combative final live television debate. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In the first round of voting Bolsonaro won 47% over Lula's 45%. But in the intervening 3 weeks of intense and acrimonious campaigning the left-wing incumbent seems to have made up some ground. 80-year-old Lula aims for historic 4th non-consecutive term Lula, who got his start as a union worker and became the country's first working class president, inspired a cult-like devotion during his first and second terms in office, as Brazil's economy expanded with the help of a commodities boom and social programmes, including direct cash assistance, that lifted millions of Brazilians out of poverty. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva greets supporters during his final campaign rally in Rio de Janeiro, 24/10/2026 Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved He later spent more than a year in prison on corruption convictions that were eventually annulled before winning a third term in 2022. Former U.S. President Barack Obama once called Lula “the world’s most popular politician,” but his approval rating have at times fallen as low as 24% this term as voters raise concerns about crimes and the cost of living. Former lawyer Bolsonaro hopes to continue his father's politics Senator Bolsonaro began his political career at 21, when he became Rio’s youngest elected state lawmaker. When his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, barred from running as he serves a 27-year sentence under house detention for staging an attempted coup after losing to Lula in 2022, his eldest son took on the challenge to continue the right-wing agenda. He has largely embraced his father’s ultra-conservative politics, while trying to moderate his communication style to attract centrist voters. A supporter with her face painted in the colors of the Brazilian flag at the final campaign rally of opposition presidential candidate Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, Rio de Jananeiro Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved His hard-line security policies have been a pillar of his campaign, and polls show these proposals are popular. Sunday's runoff will determine whether Brazil remains one of the few leftist nations in the region or joins the ranks of right-wing governments friendly with US President Donald Trump. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right, and opposition presidential candidate Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro attend a televised debate. Rio de Janeiro, 23/10/2026 Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved In their final debate on Friday night, the rivals struck a calmer tone than their first showdown, which descended into insults and was empty of policy proposals. Lula attacked the senator's lack of experience while Bolsonaro accused the president of leaving behind a "broken country." "He doesn't know what hunger is," Brazil's first working-class president said of Bolsonaro, who asked the incumbent: "Why are things so expensive?" He has promised to resolve Brazil's crime woes, create 500,000 more spots in prisons and slash government spending. International repercussions for the future Brazil plays a vital role in mitigating global warming by protecting the Amazon rainforest, but deforestation a record high during Jair Bolsonaro's presidency, and his son has likewise denied human-caused climate change, committing only to stopping illegal deforestation. This was followed by a record low in new clearances in recent years, as Lula's government increased satellite monitoring and targeted law enforcement. Sen. Bolsonaro’s admission that he accepted millions of dollars from disgraced banker Daniel Vorcaro to produce a film on his father’s life has cast a shadow over his campaign. He is under investigation for corrution, money-laundering and tax evasion in connection with the case. Lula has repeatedly warned the US not to meddle in Brazil’s elections and has made defending Brazil's sovereignty and interference by foreign social media a key campaign issue. Trump announced 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods last year, citing — among other reasons — the trial of Jair Bolsonaro. This year, he imposed a new round of US tarrifs, citing unfair trade practices despite running a U.S. surplus. Trump also classified Brazil’s biggest drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organisations, shortly after receiving Sen. Bolsonaro at the White House — a move Lula's administration opposed as a pretext for intervention. A victory by Bolsonaro would add Brazil to a list of Latin American countries — including Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica and Peru — that have elected Trump-friendly governments in recent years. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Lula and Bolsonaro trade insults in TV debate ahead of weekend presidential runoff Brazil heads to a runoff presidential vote after Bolsonaro and Lula fail to acquire outright majority needed US suspends consular services in Brazil as Lula and Bolsonaro fight for election Elections Brazil politics Brazil Comments