Brazil’s Lula, Flavio Bolsonaro wrap up campaigns ahead of first-round vote

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro concluded their campaigns on Saturday in anticipation of Sunday's first-round presidential election. Despite polls indicating a probable runoff, both candidates expressed confidence in their victory. Lula's campaign concluded with a march in Sao Paulo that saw a massive turnout of supporters, estimated at 150,000 people, while Bolsonaro participated in a motorcycle caravan and a rally in Rio de Janeiro.

Lula's team celebrated the event as the largest in his 2022 campaign, while his party's leader, Edinho Silva, attributed the high turnout to growing momentum for Lula. The leftist leader urged the nation to choose between democracy and barbarism. Bolsonaro, on the other hand, encouraged his supporters to vote and predicted a win in the first round.

The right-wing senator was seen holding a banner with an image of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest after being convicted of attempting to overturn the 2022 election result that Lula won. If no candidate secures over 50% of valid votes in Sunday's first round, the two leading contenders will face a runoff on October 25.