Brazilians go to the polls on Sunday to elect their new president in a closely fought run-off election. The choice is between Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the 80-year-old incumbent left-winger seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, and Flávio Bolsonaro, a 45-year-old right-wing senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after losing the last election in 2022.
Election Context
This election is particularly significant as Bolsonaro came out on top in the first round of voting on October 4, which US President Donald Trump described as a "very big" victory. Historically, no candidate who trailed after the first round has managed to overturn the deficit in the second round.
Supporters of Bolsonaro rallied in Rio de Janeiro on the eve of the election, expressing confidence in his promises of a tough crackdown on organized crime, as well as tax and public spending cuts. He campaigned in Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, a crucial state for any presidential hopeful since the 1980s.
“"The time is almost here," Bolsonaro told supporters in a social media video. "There are only a few hours left before we shape the future of our nation for the next 30 or 40 years."
