Nearly 159 million voters are expected to cast ballots in a closely contested election, with polls showing the two candidates tied.
On Sunday, Oct. 25, Brazil will decide its future in the presidential runoff election, pitting President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against far-right Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro.
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Nearly 159 million Brazilians are eligible to elect their next president, who will take office on Jan. 5, 2027. Polling stations will be open for nine hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time. Results will be known on Sunday, thanks to the country’s efficient electronic voting system.
The eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro enters the runoff with an advantage after receiving the most votes in the first round on Oct. 4, winning 47% of the vote, two percentage points more than the progressive leader. However, polls conducted in recent days have shown an upward trend for the Workers’ Party leader, who, at 80, is seeking his fourth nonconsecutive term.
According to the latest poll, released Thursday by polling firm Datafolha, the two candidates are tied at 50% of the valid votes. The outcome of the race is shaping up to be extremely close, even more so than in 2022, when Lula defeated Jair Bolsonaro by just over 2 million votes.
The leftist leader faces the difficult challenge of winning the election after finishing second in the first round. In the nine presidential elections held since the end of the military dictatorship (1964-1985), no one has managed such a feat. To make history, Lula will have to overcome the 2.2 million-vote gap separating him from Bolsonaro after the first round.
“I would like to ask for your vote because either we keep democracy functioning or we will have a militiaman governing this country,” Lula said on Friday night during the final televised debate before the runoff.
Este es Lula liderando con el sindicato del metal a los 33 años la huelga que desafió a la dictadura militar en Brasil. Logró aumentos salariales y fue encarcelado. Mientras, la única profesión del ultraderechista Flávio Bolsonaro ha sido la de político desde que tiene 21 años. pic.twitter.com/pp7YHexIqf
— Fonsi Loaiza (@FonsiLoaiza) October 23, 2026
The text reads, “Here is Lula, at age 33, leading the metalworkers’ union in a strike that defied Brazil’s military dictatorship. He secured wage increases and was subsequently imprisoned. Meanwhile, the far-right figure Flávio Bolsonaro has had only one profession—that of a politician—since the age of 21.”
Lula Changes Strategy
Over the past three weeks, Lula has radically shifted his campaign strategy. He has immersed himself in social media and energized his supporters with massive rallies in cities such as Belo Horizonte and Sao Paulo.
He has also stepped up announcements from the presidency: he obtained congressional approval for the reduction of the workweek, forgave the debts of millions of self-employed workers, and introduced incentive measures for the video game industry.
Lula also sent Parliament a proposal to make public transportation free on weekends and holidays in the country’s nearly 6,000 municipalities.
In recent weeks, the far-right Liberal Party (PL) senator has been significantly affected by the possible consequences of his own proposals. Among them is his intention to cut public spending by US$40 billion, although Flavio insists he does not intend to take a single cent from the most vulnerable.
In recent days, the Brazilian press has also revealed new suspicions about Flavio’s involvement in a money-laundering scheme linked to online betting.
📊 PESQUISA DATA FOLHA – NACIONAL
✅ VOTOS VÁLIDOS | 2º TURNO🔴 Lula (PT): 50% (+1) ⬆️
🔵 Flávio Bolsonaro (PL): 50% (-1) ⬇️CONTINUEM EMPENHADOS VIRANDO VOTOS PRO LULA, AGORA É GUERRA! pic.twitter.com/vEqZ2Yp3Le
— Nordeste é 13 (@thiegocomenta) October 22, 2026
The text reads: “Datafolha poll – valid votes nationwide | Runoff. Lula (Workers’ Party): 50% (+1). Flavio Bolsonaro (Liberal Party): 50% (-1). Keep working hard to secure votes for Lula—it’s all-out war now!”
Zuckerberg’s Meta Under Scrutiny for Aiding the Far Right
The 2026 presidential campaign has become embroiled in legal disputes on an unprecedented scale. The Superior Electoral Court has received more than 800 complaints throughout the election campaign.
One of those disputes has centered on the controversial conduct of Meta, the owner of WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.
Lula’s supporters have requested the annulment of Bolsonaro’s candidacy over alleged interference by Mark Zuckerberg’s company, which they accuse of favoring the circulation of far-right content while restricting progressive content.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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