Brazil Presidential Election: Lula Faces Tight Runoff Against Bolsonaro's Son

Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba

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Hebrew · 3 newsrooms covering

Brazil is holding a tight presidential runoff election between incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, with polls showing a statistical tie. The election's outcome will impact Brazil's relations with Israel and the US. Both candidates held final rallies, appealing to undecided voters and focusing on issues like the economy, crime, and social welfare. Nearly 160 million Brazilians are eligible to vote, and results are expected shortly after polls close.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Brazil's presidential runoff pits incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.
Recent polls show a statistical tie, with Bolsonaro slightly ahead in some surveys.
The election outcome will significantly affect Brazil's diplomatic relations with Israel and the US.
Both candidates held final campaign rallies, appealing to undecided voters.
Key issues include the economy, social welfare, and crime.
Nearly 160 million Brazilians are eligible to vote in the closely watched election.

Brazil Presidential Election: Lula Faces Tight Runoff Against Bolsonaro's Son — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Brazil is holding a highly contested presidential runoff election today between incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. The outcome of this election is expected to significantly influence Brazil's diplomatic relations with both Israel and the United States. Da Silva's previous term saw a deterioration in relations with Jerusalem, while a Bolsonaro victory would likely lead to an upgrade in bilateral ties.

Recent polls indicate an extremely close race. Surveys published on Saturday by Datafolha and Quaest showed Bolsonaro with 51% of valid votes compared to 49% for Lula, with a two-point margin of error. Atlas Intelligence and Bloomberg reported a narrower gap, with Bolsonaro at 50.8% and Lula at 49.2%, a one-point margin of error. Nexus polls showed an even tighter race at 50.5% for Bolsonaro and 49.5% for Lula. These figures exclude blank or invalid ballots, but overall polling suggests a neck-and-neck contest, despite Bolsonaro's slight numerical advantage in some surveys.

Both candidates concluded their campaigns with rallies and appeals to undecided voters. Da Silva held rallies in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, expressing confidence in victory and emphasizing the public's desire for change. He accused his opponent of running a campaign based on falsehoods and urged popular mobilization. Bolsonaro participated in a motorcycle convoy and a march, urging undecided voters not to trust the current administration's unfulfilled promises and pledging years of happiness, prosperity, and freedom to his supporters.

The state of Minas Gerais, particularly its capital Belo Horizonte, is seen as a key battleground. Historically, every president elected since the 1980s has won in Minas Gerais, and Bolsonaro held a five-point lead over Lula there in the first round. Da Silva specifically appealed to female voters, framing the election as a defense of democracy and social rights, stating Brazil would not become another country's backyard. Bolsonaro, meanwhile, claimed on social media that the hope promised by the government had turned into fear and disappointment, vowing to do his best as president.

Da Silva's platform focuses on expanding social aid and easing the cost of living, including a proposal to shorten the maximum work week from 44 to 40 hours without reducing pay. Bolsonaro advocates for a tough stance on crime, proposing the construction of massive prisons and trying individuals as adults from age 16. Nearly 160 million Brazilians are eligible to vote, with polls closing at 10 PM Israel time. In the first round, over 33 million voters, about 21% of eligible voters, abstained. Electronic voting is in use, and results are expected within hours of the polls closing.