Brazil’s 80‑year‑old former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva staged a massive rally on São Paulo’s Avenida Paulista on Saturday, hours before voters head to the polls. Hundreds of thousands of red‑clad supporters gathered, chanting and forming the letter “L,” as Lula rode a soundtruck down the iconic 3‑km street. The event, possibly his last campaign stop, highlighted his bid for an unprecedented fourth term despite trailing rival Flávio Bolsonaro in recent polls (51% vs. 49%). Lula, who has run seven times for president, has campaigned aggressively after losing the first round on Oct. 4, using a revamped social‑media strategy and a WhatsApp channel called “Lula’s Army.” The rally underscored his long political career, past impeachments, and a comeback narrative that has defined Brazilian politics for decades. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro, who emerged from the first round as the favorite, mocked Lula’s missing finger in a debate, prompting a sharp retort from the leftist leader about respecting working‑class Brazilians. The final polls suggest a tight race, with no trailing candidate winning a runoff since Brazil’s return to democracy in 1989.
Lula’s campaign has leveraged his history of defying odds—from trade union activism during dictatorship to surviving cancer and wrongful convictions—to rally a loyal base. His supporters hope for another miraculous comeback, while Bolsonaro’s endorsements from previously neutral parties have bolstered his confidence as a presumptive president‑elect.
The Avenida Paulista rally, a traditional stage for political movements, served both as a farewell and a launchpad for Lula’s final push, embodying the high‑stakes battle for Brazil’s future leadership.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing