Brazil Polls Show 1.3 Point Gap in Final Presidential Hours

A CNT/MDA poll published on Saturday indicates a 1.3 percentage point gap between the two presidential candidates in Brazil, with Flavio Bolsonaro leading 46.3 percent to 45 percent. The survey carries a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points. This result follows a similar reading from the same polling firm one week earlier, which showed Bolsonaro at 46.8 percent and Lula at 45.9 percent.

The data arrives on the final day of campaigning before voters head to the polls on Sunday for the runoff election. In the first round of voting, Bolsonaro secured 47 percent of the vote, narrowly edging out Lula's 45 percent. Recent surveys suggest the contest remains statistically level, with both candidates within the margin of error.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the 80-year-old incumbent, addressed hundreds of supporters from a campaign truck at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. Wearing a red hat, the left-wing leader waved a Brazilian flag while speaking to the crowd. He contrasted his own stance with that of his rival, noting the latter's connection to US President Donald Trump. Lula told the assembly: "The people must choose either someone who kisses the national flag or someone who kisses the American flag."

Flavio Bolsonaro, a senator and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, held a separate rally in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. The event featured hundreds of motorcyclists wearing yellow national football shirts. Ebert Dorigo, one of the motorcyclists, told the news agency AFP that Lula's Workers' Party had fostered dependence on government welfare. Dorigo stated: "The values we uphold are nation and family." He argued that Brazil is divided because welfare-based policies have led some to believe achievement comes only through hard work.

The campaign has featured sharp disagreements over economic policy, crime, and the nation's political direction. Bolsonaro has pledged to cut government spending and add hundreds of thousands of prison places to address crime. His father, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Lula.

The candidates held a final debate on Friday, adopting a calmer tone than in previous exchanges, though they continued to trade accusations regarding economic difficulties and their respective records. Gabriela Ribeiro Viana, an event organizer, told AFP that the choice was difficult, describing the candidates as the horrible option and the lesser evil. The vote will determine whether Brazil keeps Lula in office for a fourth, non-consecutive term or shifts further right in line with regional trends.