Sao Paulo (AFP) - On the eve of the start of the first round of elections whose results are expected to be close, leftist Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his conservative rival Flavio Bolsonaro concluded their election campaigns on Saturday with field trips to rally their supporters.

Published on: 03/10/2026 - 18:00 Last updated: 04/10/2026 - 01:18

Lula da Silva (80 years old), who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive presidential term, chose the city of Sao Paulo in the southeast of the country to communicate with his voters.

Lula addressed his supporters, saying, "Tomorrow we will win the elections in the first round."

Sao Paulo is the city where Lula da Silva concluded his election campaign four years ago, when he narrowly won in the second round over the far-right Jair Bolsonaro, the father of his main rival this year.

"This last battle for Lula is like my personal battle," Jair Montero (60 years old) told AFP while waiting for the president to arrive in the largest city in Latin America.

As for Flavio Bolsonaro (45 years old), he is participating in a motorcycle rally about 400 kilometers away.

He hopes to benefit from the conservative wave that has swept Latin America in recent years, as happened in Argentina and Colombia. US President Donald Trump is following the elections "closely."

"Don't vote in two batches, do it all at once this Sunday," Bolsonaro said in a video posted before the motorcycle rally.

“We need immediate change,” said Bolsonaro supporter Marcelo Berisime, a 50-year-old shop owner.

The latest opinion polls show a strong closeness between the two main candidates, indicating that resolving the race between them will likely require a second round, which will be on October 25.

"Let's make Lula president again."

In São Paulo, among the crowds of Lula's supporters wearing red, the color of his Workers' Party, some wore hats or wore T-shirts bearing the phrase "Make Lula President Again," winking from the channel of Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again."

"Trump wants to make Brazil his backyard, and we have to stop him at all costs. That's why these elections are important," said Adriana Lima, a 44-year-old teacher.

Lula raised the slogan of sovereignty during his election campaign, and accused the Trump administration of seeking to seize Brazil's resources, including rare minerals.

Thiago Lororito, a 35-year-old accountant, said: “Brazil needs someone to defend the colors of our flag, not someone who wants to hand them over to the United States.”

Trump has not publicly expressed his support for Flavio Bolsonaro, but he received him at the White House in May.

Trump is an ally of Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest after being sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup.

- “Trump should intervene” -

Eliane Boscolo (47 years old), who wore a T-shirt with the words “God, Family, Country” on it, commented: “Trump should intervene. (...) We do not live in a democracy today. We, the common people, cannot even live a decent life.”

Elian joined a park in Santa Barbara Dueste, where motorcycles and ATVs were lined up for the “Victory Parade.” The procession, led by Flavio Bolsonaro, is scheduled to travel approximately 20 kilometers to the neighboring town of Americana.

Lula and Bolsonaro exchanged continuous attacks during the election campaign, without recording direct confrontations between them during televised debates.

Flavio Bolsonaro seeks to exploit popular discontent with the government after four years in which the right held the left responsible for high costs of living and insecurity.

The electoral debate was not limited to exchanging ideas, but also shed light on various scandals, affecting even the conservative senator, who is in turn subject to investigation on charges of corruption and money laundering.

On the eve of the first round, some are still hesitant to make their decision, such as Patricia Catherine de Souza (35 years old), a resident of Rio de Janeiro. She said, “This political debate, for me, is a waste of time. But since the elections are tomorrow, I am studying things well so that I can vote wisely, lest I regret it later.”

© 2026 AFP

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