Lula waves flag at Copacabana as Flavio Bolsonaro keeps 1.3 point edge

Flavio Bolsonaro holds a 1.3 percentage point lead over Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva according to the final national poll released before the Sunday runoff. The CNT/MDA survey, published on Saturday, places Bolsonaro at 46.3 percent and Lula at 45 percent. The margin of error for the study is 2.2 percentage points. This result follows an earlier CNT/MDA poll from one week prior, which showed Bolsonaro at 46.8 percent and Lula at 45.9 percent.

The two candidates held their final rallies on Saturday. Lula, age 80, addressed hundreds of supporters at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. He wore a red hat and waved a Brazilian flag from a campaign truck. Referring to his rival's relationship with US President Donald Trump, Lula said, "The people must choose either someone who kisses the national flag or someone who kisses the American flag." Lula is seeking a fourth, non-consecutive term in office.

Bolsonaro's supporters gathered in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. Hundreds of motorcyclists wearing yellow national football shirts attended the event. Ebert Dorigo, a participant, told the AFP news agency that the Workers' Party had encouraged dependence on government welfare. He stated, "The values we uphold are nation and family." Dorigo argued that welfare-based policies have caused some citizens to overlook the role of hard work in achieving improvement.

The runoff election will determine whether Brazil retains Lula or joins a regional trend toward the right. Bolsonaro, a senator and the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, won the first round with 47 percent of the vote compared to Lula's 45 percent. The campaign has focused on economic policy, crime, and the political direction of the country. Bolsonaro has pledged to cut government spending and add hundreds of thousands of prison places to address crime.

Former President Jair Bolsonaro, who served from 2019 to 2022, is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after his defeat in 2022. The candidates participated in a final debate on Friday. They adopted a calmer tone during the discussion but continued to exchange accusations regarding Brazil's economic difficulties and their respective records.

Gabriela Ribeiro Viana, an event organizer, told AFP that the choice between the two candidates was difficult. She said, "If there were any other candidate, that would be a better option. But we're stuck choosing between the worst, the horrible, and the lesser evil." Voting begins on Sunday to decide the next president of Brazil.