New Poll Shows Pro-Israel Candidate Leading Brazil Presidential Race
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
A new poll shows Flavio Bolsonaro, a pro-Israel candidate, leading President Lula by over five points in Brazil's presidential race. Bolsonaro has pledged to move Brazil's embassy to Jerusalem if elected, a move that could significantly alter bilateral relations. Relations have been strained under Lula, who accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. The election outcome is expected in late October.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Flavio Bolsonaro leads President Lula by over five points in a new Brazilian presidential election poll.
- Bolsonaro has pledged to move Brazil's embassy to Jerusalem if elected.
- The poll surveyed 5,026 respondents between October 3rd and 8th.
- Brazilian-Israeli relations have worsened under President Lula.
- Lula accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
- The election's decisive round is less than three weeks away.
A new poll indicates that Flavio Bolsonaro, a candidate who has pledged to move Brazil's embassy to Jerusalem, holds a significant lead over incumbent President Lula. The survey shows Bolsonaro ahead by more than five percentage points, with 52.8% of the vote when excluding undecided, blank, or invalid ballots, compared to Lula's 47.2%. The margin of error for the poll, which surveyed 5,026 respondents between October 3rd and 8th, is one percentage point.
Bolsonaro's potential victory could dramatically reshape Brazil-Israel relations. During his campaign, he committed to aligning Brazil with Israel starting in 2027, reinstating an ambassador to Israel, and relocating the Brazilian embassy to Jerusalem. He has been a vocal critic of Lula's policies toward Israel, accusing him of damaging bilateral ties.
Relations between Jerusalem and Brasilia have deteriorated significantly under Lula's presidency, partly due to his accusations that Israel is committing "genocide" in Gaza. The latest poll suggests a real possibility that Latin America's largest nation could return to a pro-Israel stance in international affairs, with less than three weeks remaining until the election's decisive round.
Mentioned
