Lula Draws Massive Rio Crowd as Runoff Nears Decisive Sunday
With polls tight, the left-wing president rallies support on Copacabana while his rival campaigns on security concerns.
By Amina Kaminski ·
Tens of thousands of supporters gathered on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach on Saturday to rally behind President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The crowd filled the 2.5-mile stretch under strong sun, creating a carnival-like atmosphere in red attire. Activists unfurled a large yellow and green banner that read, "WE ARE GOING TO TURN THIS AROUND!" The event marked the final major public appearance before the presidential runoff scheduled for Sunday.
Approximately 159 million Brazilians are eligible to vote in the second round. The race is currently tight, with Flávio Bolsonaro and Lula tied in recent polls. Bolsonaro won the first round on October 4 with 47% of the vote compared to Lula's 45%. No candidate who lost the first round since the return of democracy in the 1980s has gone on to win the runoff, making a victory for the incumbent president historically rare.
Analysts view Bolsonaro as the slight favorite. He positions himself as a hardliner against violent crime, following his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who served from 2019 to 2022. However, Lula has gained momentum in recent days amid scandals involving his opponent. Last week, the magazine Piauí reported that Flávio Bolsonaro attended a boat party with sex workers and vaccine lobbyists during the peak of the 2020 coronavirus outbreak.
Many voters see the election as a referendum on the Bolsonaro legacy. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election. Democratic supporters fear he could be released or return to power if his son wins. Press reports suggest that other jailed or exiled plotters might receive senior military and police positions under a Bolsonaro administration. Restaurateur Marta Moraes, 59, said she opposes "Bolsonarismo" specifically, noting that she lost four relatives due to neglect during the pandemic.
Bolsonaro’s supporters also organized street events. In Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, thousands gathered in Praça da Liberdade wearing yellow jerseys and waving Brazilian and US flags. Minas Gerais holds the country's second-largest electorate and is 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.
Shooting club owner Antonio Carlos Costa Jr., 59, defended the security platform, stating that Jair Bolsonaro granted citizens the right to self-defense and his son would continue that approach. Security experts note that previous loosening of gun laws diverted many firearms to criminal gangs, while Lula has tightened regulations. Architect Erika Cavalcante, 43, carried a sign reading "Don't let the mobsters win," reflecting skepticism about Bolsonaro's ties to Rio paramilitary militias.
The next step in the election process is the official voting on Sunday. Both campaigns will await the final tally to determine the winner. The outcome will decide whether Lula remains in office or if Flávio Bolsonaro assumes the presidency.
