Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro have concluded their election campaigns ahead of Sunday's first-round presidential vote. Both candidates expressed confidence in victory: Lula, 80, emphasized the choice between democracy and far-right politics at a rally in São Paulo, while Flavio Bolsonaro led a motorcycle caravan through towns in São Paulo state before rallying supporters in Rio de Janeiro. Polls indicate that neither candidate is likely to secure an outright win on Sunday, setting up a potential runoff election on October 25. The campaign has seen increased scrutiny over the Banco Master scandal and US involvement, with Lula’s team accusing Washington of meddling while some Bolsonaro supporters welcome any pressure for domestic change.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s incumbent leftist president aged 80, and Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro (currently serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup), are in a tight race ahead of the October 4 election. Both candidates have been making last-ditch efforts to discredit each other through scandals and mudslinging, reflecting deep political polarization in Brazil. Lula has promised social welfare increases and banned sports betting, while Bolsonaro, campaigning on security and fiscal austerity, is confident of a first-round victory despite polls suggesting a likely runoff on October 25.
On the eve of the election, Lula held a large rally in São Paulo, Brazil’s economic powerhouse, drawing hundreds of thousands of supporters. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro led a motorcycle caravan through towns in São Paulo state and later rallied in Rio de Janeiro, also expressing confidence in victory. The race is seen as crucial for determining the future direction of Latin America's largest economy, with Lula framing it as a choice between democracy and "barbarism," while Bolsonaro’s supporters view him as a political legend ("mito").
Written for “Brazil Presidential Election Campaigns” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro have wrapped up their election campaigns, each voicing confidence in victory ahead of Sunday’s tightly contested first-round presidential vote.
asserted
each → wrap → vote
Lula, 80, closed his re-election bid on Saturday with a march through Sao Paulo, Brazil’s economic powerhouse, drawing what his campaign called a record crowd for a closing rally.
asserted
campaign → close → rally
Why the Bolsonaro family dominates Brazil’s right wing
asserted
family → dominate → wing
- list 2 of 3Election debate cancelled in Brazil, bomb scare outside Supreme Court
- list 3 of 3How the Banco Master scandal injected chaos into Brazil’s presidential race
“Tomorrow, we’re going to win the elections in the first round,” he told supporters, describing Sunday’s vote as a choice between “democracy and barbarism” and promising to “defeat the far right”.
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he → cancel → right
He has also framed the election as a test of Brazil’s sovereignty, warning against “meddling” by Washington.
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He → frame → Washington
Bolsonaro led a motorcycle caravan through towns in Sao Paulo state, echoing the campaign style of his father, before rallying later in Rio de Janeiro.
asserted
Bolsonaro → lead → Janeiro
“I am convinced that everything is in place for us to win this election in the first round,” he said.
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he → win → round
The former leader, 71, is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting to overturn his 2022 election loss to Lula.
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leader → serve → Lula
The younger Bolsonaro was photographed at his rally holding a portrait of his father.
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Bolsonaro → photograph → father
Trump has not formally endorsed Bolsonaro but has said he is watching the election “very closely”, a level of US interest that has become a flashpoint in the campaign.
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that → endorse → campaign
Lula’s supporters have seized on it as evidence Washington is trying to meddle in the elections, while some Bolsonaro supporters, frustrated by the cost of living, say they would welcome US pressure if it helped force change at home.
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it → seize → home
Polls released on Saturday suggested Lula was still ahead but his lead was narrowing, with neither candidate likely to win outright on Sunday.
uncertain
candidate → release → Sunday
Such a result would send the race to a run-off on October 25 between the two frontrunners, a contest polls suggest would also be close.
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polls → send → frontrunners
It is a far tighter race than Lula’s last victory in 2022, when he beat the elder Bolsonaro by less than two percentage points.
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he → beat → points
Meanwhile, the Bolsonaro campaign has faced scrutiny over a film-funding scandal.
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campaign → face → scandal
Flavio Bolsonaro is under investigation over financing for Dark Horse, a biopic about his father, bankrolled by a jailed banker tied to one of Brazil’s biggest financial scandals.
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Bolsonaro → bankroll → scandals
Brazil’s Supreme Court authorised federal police in April to investigate whether Flavio Bolsonaro made defamatory statements about Lula.
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Bolsonaro → authorise → Lula
Bolsonaro has pledged to seek his father’s release from prison if elected, and has echoed his father’s unsubstantiated claims questioning the reliability of Brazil’s electronic voting system, which analysts say could be laying the groundwork to contest the result if he loses.
uncertain
he → pledge → result
Beyond the presidency, Brazil’s nearly 160 million registered voters will also choose lawmakers, governors and senators on Sunday.
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voters → register → Sunday
Right-wing candidates have gained ground in Latin America in recent months.
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candidates → gain → months
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