Bolsonaro and Lula close Brazil campaign with final rallies

Brazilian voters conclude a tight campaign on Saturday as Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro hold final rallies before Sunday's run-off.

Lula, an 80-year-old incumbent, addressed hundreds of supporters at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. He wore a red hat and waved a Brazilian flag from a campaign truck. Referencing his rival's relationship with US President Donald Trump, Lula stated that voters must choose between 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 gathering in Minas Gerais. Hundreds of motorcyclists wearing yellow national football shirts attended the event. Ebert Dorigo, one of the participants, told the news agency AFP that Lula's Workers' Party had encouraged dependence on government welfare. Dorigo argued that the country needs a change in direction and that values of nation and family are paramount.

A CNT/MDA poll released on Saturday indicates the race remains nearly level. The survey places Bolsonaro at 46.3 percent and Lula at 45 percent. A week earlier, the same poll showed Bolsonaro leading by 46.8 percent to 45.9 percent. The margin of error for the survey is 2.2 percentage points.

The contest determines whether Lula secures a fourth, non-consecutive term or if Brazil shifts further to the right. Bolsonaro, who received 47 percent of the vote in the first round, 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 sentence for attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election.

The candidates adopted a calmer tone during their final debate on Friday, though they continued to exchange accusations regarding economic difficulties. Gabriela Ribeiro Viana, an event organizer, described the choice as difficult to AFP. She noted that voters are stuck choosing between the worst and the lesser evil.

The final day of campaigning marks the end of a bitter contest that has exposed divisions over economic policy, crime, and the country's political future.