Brazil’s Lula, Bolsonaro draw thousands to election-eve rallies

Brazil's presidential candidates Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro have rallied thousands of supporters in a final show of campaign strength in advance of the country's closely contested run-off election.

Key points

• His father, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after losing that year's election to Lula.
• Bolsonaro, a senator and son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, secured 47 percent of the vote in the first round, narrowly ahead of Lula's 45 percent.
• A CNT/MDA survey published on Saturday disclosed Bolsonaro would receive 46.3 percent of the vote compared ⁠with 45 percent for the left-wing ⁠Lula.
• One of those supporters, Ebert Dorigo, accused Lula's Workers' Party (PT) of encouraging dependence on administration welfare, arguing a change in direction was needed for the country.
• On Saturday, Bolsonaro's supporters, including hundreds of motorcyclists wearing Brazil's yellow national football shirts, gathered in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.

Donning a red hat, Lula addressed hundreds of supporters at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach on Saturday, waving a Brazilian flag from a campaign truck as crowds gathered on the final day of campaigning.

"The people must choose either someone who kisses the national flag or someone who kisses the American flag", the 80-year-old informed the crowd as he referenced his opponent's ties to US President Donald Trump.

Lula is seeking a fourth, non-consecutive term in Sunday's run-off. It will task Brazilians with determining whether to stick with their incumbent left-wing leader or join a broader regional shift towards the right.

Recent polling demonstrates Lula and the younger Bolsonaro remain concerning even on the eve of the pivotal election.

Notably, a CNT/MDA survey published on Saturday disclosed Bolsonaro would receive 46.3 percent of the vote compared ⁠with 45 percent for the left-wing ⁠Lula. Last week, ⁠the poll indicated a slightly closer race with Bolsonaro leading ⁠Lula 46.8 percent to ⁠45.9 percent. The poll's margin of error was 2.2 ‌percentage ‌points.

"The values we uphold are nation and family. Our country is divided today since, due to welfare-based policies, some residents. Haven't grasped that improvement and achievement come only through hard work, " he informed the news agency AFP.

Notably, the bitter campaign has exposed deep divisions over economic policy, crime and Brazil's political future. It bolsonaro has pledged to tackle with hundreds of thousands of more spots in prison and cuts to administration spending.

Although they traded accusations over the country's economic difficulties and their respective records, the two candidates struck a calmer tone during their final debate on Friday. For some voters, nevertheless, the choice has been a challenging one.

"If there were any other candidate, that would be a better option, " Gabriela Ribeiro Viana, an event organiser, informed AFP. "But we're stuck choosing between the worst, the horrible, and the lesser evil".

For now, brazil's Lula, Bolsonaro draw thousands to election remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.