Brazil election tightens further as Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro trade attacks ahead of Sunday vote

The final days of Brazil's presidential campaign have become increasingly combative, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his rival Flavio Bolsonaro trading accusations in an effort to sway undecided voters before Sunday's election. The race is described as a dead heat, and opinion polls continue to point to a runoff on 25 October. Both leading figures also skipped a televised programme on Thursday evening, leaving voters without a direct debate in the closing stretch.

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The contest pits Lula, 80, against the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who is described as a close ally of Donald Trump. Trump said on Thursday that he was watching Brazil's election very closely. Felipe Nunes, director of the Quaest polling institute, said the race was tied but not at a standstill, adding that the final week would determine where voters who can still be swayed will go.

The campaign has been marked by scandals and insults, reflecting the deep political polarisation that has shaped the contest in Latin America's largest economy. Many of Brazil's 160 million registered voters appear disenchanted with their options, according to the reporting, and the absence of a televised debate has added to the sense of a compressed and highly tactical final phase. Supporters interviewed in Juiz de Fora described their choices as reluctant, with one voter backing Lula as the lesser of two evils and another backing Flavio Bolsonaro despite reservations.

The dispute also shows how religion and symbolism have become part of the closing campaign. Rumours spread that Flavio Bolsonaro planned to strip Brazil's patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida, of her post if elected, prompting denials from his camp. Lula responded by campaigning with a statue of the saint and calling any interference with her unacceptable.

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The electoral court also ordered on Thursday that posts containing what it described as untrue claims be removed, underlining how misinformation has become part of the final phase. The stakes are significant because the vote comes in one of the last major leftist strongholds in the region and at a time when right-wing forces have been gaining ground elsewhere in Latin America. Lula's support is said to be stronger among Catholics, while Bolsonaro has the backing of a growing Evangelical population, making religious and cultural identity part of the electoral calculation.

The result will therefore matter not only for domestic policy but also for Brazil's place in a region where political alignments remain fluid. What remains unclear is whether either candidate can break the deadlock before Sunday or whether the contest will move to a runoff on 25 October, as the polls suggest. It is also not yet clear how much the late-stage scandals and the absence of a debate will affect turnout and undecided voters.

The next key development will be the first official result from Sunday's vote and whether it confirms the current dead heat.

Brazil's presidential race has entered its final stretch, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his rival Flavio Bolsonaro trading accusations in a bid to sway undecided voters before Sunday's election. The contest remains extremely tight, with opinion polls pointing to a runoff on 25 October. Both leading figures skipped a televised programme on Thursday evening, leaving voters without a direct debate in the closing days of the campaign.

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The race pits Lula, 80, against the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who is described as a close ally of Donald Trump. Trump said on Thursday that he was watching Brazil's election very closely. Felipe Nunes, director of the Quaest polling institute, said the race was tied but not at a standstill, adding that the final week would determine where voters who can still be swayed will go.

The campaign has been marked by scandals and insults, reflecting the deep political polarisation that has shaped the contest in Latin America's largest economy. Many of Brazil's 160 million registered voters appear disenchanted with their options, according to the reporting, and the absence of a televised debate has added to the sense of a compressed and highly tactical final phase. Supporters interviewed in the city of Juiz de Fora described their choices as reluctant, with one voter backing Lula as the lesser of two evils and another backing Flavio Bolsonaro despite reservations.

The final days have also been shaped by disputes over religion and symbolism. Rumours spread that Flavio Bolsonaro planned to strip Brazil's patron saint, Our Lady of Aparecida, of her post if elected, prompting fierce denials from his camp. Lula responded by campaigning with a statue of the saint and calling any interference with her unacceptable.

The electoral court ordered on Thursday that posts containing what it described as untrue claims be removed, underlining how quickly misinformation has become part of the campaign's closing phase. The stakes are significant because the vote comes in one of the last major leftist strongholds in the region and at a time when right-wing forces have been gaining ground elsewhere in Latin America. Lula's support is said to be stronger among Catholics, while Bolsonaro has the backing of a growing Evangelical population, making religious and cultural identity part of the electoral calculation.

The result will therefore matter not only for domestic policy but also for Brazil's place in a region where political alignments remain fluid. What remains unclear is whether either candidate can break the deadlock before Sunday or whether the contest will move to a runoff on 25 October, as the polls suggest. It is also not yet clear how much the late-stage scandals and the absence of a debate will affect turnout and undecided voters.

The next key development will be the first official result from Sunday's vote and whether the race confirms the current dead heat.

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