Brazil goes to the polls on Sunday for the second round of the presidential election, where Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva competes against Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of the former president who has been convicted. In the first round of this election held earlier this month, Bolsonaro led Lula by more than 2.2 million votes, but over 33 million of the nearly 160 million eligible voters abstained from participating in the election.
Decisive Election
The election on Sunday is expected to be very close. Recent polls indicate that Lula has narrowed the gap with Bolsonaro. To win the election, candidates must secure more than 50 percent of the votes. This election could determine Brazil's political direction, where Lula, an 80-year-old leftist figure, faces Bolsonaro, a 45-year-old right-wing figure who is supported by the United States.
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Campaign Promises
If Bolsonaro wins, it could mean a shift to the right for Brazil and have a significant impact on U.S. influence in Latin America. Lula is currently committed to continuing his social policies to increase employment and reduce poverty, while Bolsonaro has promised to implement stricter policies against crime and initiate a new political agenda. Flávio has also promised to free his father, who is under house arrest for attempting a coup in 2022, if elected.
If Lula, who has previously disagreed with U.S. President Donald Trump on trade and security issues, manages to secure a fourth term, it may pose challenges for Washington. Lula was previously president from 2003 to 2010 and returned to office in 2023. Flávio Bolsonaro has been in the Senate since 2019 and is seeking the presidency for the first time.
This confrontation between Lula and Bolsonaro occurs as Brazil faces corruption scandals, economic decline, and allegations of U.S. interference, which Washington denies. About 159 million people are eligible to vote in this election, and preliminary results are expected to be announced on Sunday night.
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