Brazil's Presidential Race Stalls at 50 Percent
New polling shows a dead heat after Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro clashed over debt and crime in a final debate in Rio de Janeiro.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
A new survey places Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a perfect tie, with both candidates polling at 50 percent. The Datafolha institute released the figures on Thursday, erasing the four-point lead Bolsonaro held in polls conducted two weeks prior. This data arrives just two days before the Sunday run-off vote, marking the tightest finish in the current campaign.
The candidates met for a final televised debate on Friday in Rio de Janeiro, broadcast by TV Globo. The discussion focused on fiscal policy and infrastructure, with both men trading accusations about the state of the national economy. Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, argued that the incumbent left the nation financially broken. He compared his proposed spending cuts to the methods of Argentina's President Javier Milei, stating, "I'll have the same job here because you're leaving the country bankrupt."
Lula countered by attacking his rival's background and connection to the average citizen. The 80-year-old president, who is Brazil's first working-class leader, dismissed the senator's understanding of the country's economic struggles. "He doesn't know what hunger is," Lula said. He further challenged Bolsonaro's qualifications by declaring, "He doesn't know Brazil." Bolsonaro responded by asking why daily goods were so expensive and positioning himself as a candidate for change.
Tensions rose when Bolsonaro used the nickname "Nine Fingers" for Lula, a reference to a metalworking accident that cost the president a finger. The term is common among Bolsonaro supporters but carries a pejorative tone. Lula demanded an apology, which Bolsonaro offered. The exchange followed a previous incident where Lula called the senator a vigilante, citing alleged ties to paramilitary groups in Rio de Janeiro. Bolsonaro characterized those groups as narcoterrorists.
The race has tightened considerably since the opening round on October 4, where Bolsonaro took 47 percent of the vote to Lula's 45 percent. Both candidates are now scheduled to join supporters in the streets of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo for their final campaign push before voters head to the polls on Sunday.
