Lula Draws Massive Rio Crowd as 159 Million Brazilians Prepare for Sunday Runoff

Tens of thousands of supporters gathered on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. They filled the 2.5-mile stretch of sand in red clothing and marched in a procession. The event took place on the final day before the presidential runoff on Sunday. Nearly 159 million Brazilians are eligible to vote in the contest.

The two candidates are currently tied in the polls. Flávio Bolsonaro won the first round on October 4 with 47% of the vote, while Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received 45%. Historically, no candidate who lost the first round has won the runoff since democracy returned to Brazil in the 1980s. A victory for Lula would break that streak.

Lula has climbed in recent polling numbers amid scandals involving his rival. Last week, the magazine Piauí reported that Flávio Bolsonaro attended a boat party with sex workers and vaccine lobbyists during the height of the 2020 coronavirus outbreak. The party allegedly took place while seeking a deal with his father’s government. Most analysts still view Bolsonaro as the slight favorite for the race.

For many voters, the election involves concerns beyond standard policy differences. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election. Some democrats fear he may be freed or return to government if his son wins. Press reports suggest that jailed or exiled co-conspirators could receive senior military and police posts.

Marta Moraes, a 59-year-old restaurateur, said her opposition targets the political movement associated with Jair Bolsonaro rather than the right wing as a whole. She stated that she lost four relatives due to neglect during the pandemic. Isabella Gaze, a 64-year-old retired teacher, described the vote as not a normal election. Many participants belong to a WhatsApp group of 10 million members formed after the first round.

Bolsonaro supporters also held rallies in other cities. In Belo Horizonte, thousands gathered in Praça da Liberdade wearing yellow jerseys and waving flags. Minas Gerais is the country’s second-largest electorate and a key bellwether state. No candidate has won the presidency without carrying this state. Bolsonaro led there by just under 5% in the first round. Antonio Carlos Costa Jr, a 59-year-old shooting club owner, argued that Jair Bolsonaro gave citizens the right to defend themselves.