Brazil’s Lula launches historic fourth term bid – but son of jailed Bolsonaro stands in his way

Brazil's leading presidential candidates, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, initiated their campaigns on Sunday in their respective strongholds. The election is anticipated to be a close contest in October. Lula addressed over 10,000 supporters at the Vila Euclides Stadium in São Paulo, the site where he gained prominence as a metalworkers union leader during Brazil's military dictatorship (1964-1985).

Meanwhile, Flávio rallied thousands of voters on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, his father Jair Bolsonaro's absence due to his current house arrest for attempting a coup.

The presidential race commenced on the first day candidates were legally permitted to campaign in Brazil. Lula pledged he would not permit foreign influence in the elections, while his supporters raised concerns about potential U.S. interference, like tariff hikes on Brazilian exports and revoking the visa of Brazil's ambassador to Washington.

Lula, a frontrunner seeking his fourth nonconsecutive term, advocated for gender equality, stating, "Men need to learn from childhood that they are no better than women. We need to be equal." He plans to unveil his policy platform, focusing on women's issues, within ten days, including education programs and measures to combat violence against women.

Flávio, in his speech alongside his mother and wife, vowed to combat violence against women. The younger Bolsonaro seeks to differentiate himself from his father, emphasizing his desire for Brazilian students to aspire to become innovators such as Elon Musk. Earlier, he reported having received 1,800 death threats, although he did not provide evidence. His father, Jair Bolsonaro, was previously attacked by a knife-wielding assailant during his 2018 presidential campaign, resulting in internal injuries.