Lula narrows gap with Bolsonaro before Brazil election runoff

Brazilian President Lula da Silva narrowed the gap with his right-wing opponent Flavio Bolsonaro ahead of the October 25 runoff, according to a Datafolha poll showing a statistical tie: Bolsonaro 51% vs. Lula 49%, within a margin of error of two percentage points.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva narrowed the gap with his right-wing opponent Flavio Bolsonaro ahead of the presidential runoff scheduled for October 25, according to a poll published by Datafolha on Thursday. Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, led the first round held on October 4, receiving 47% of the vote, compared to 45% for Lula. The latest poll showed a statistical tie between the candidates, with Bolsonaro receiving 51% of voting intentions, compared to 49% for Lula, a result within the margin of error of two percentage points. A previous poll by the same institute had given Bolsonaro 52% versus 48% for Lula, while a poll by Quest on Wednesday showed Bolsonaro leading with 51% against 49% for the current president. Lula, who aims to win a fourth presidential term, seeks to regain momentum before the runoff by boosting his presence on social media, alongside taking social measures aimed at attracting more voters.