Lula stages mass rally ahead of Brazil’s presidential run-off

Sao Paulo, October 12 — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva presided over a massive rally on Tuesday, rallying support for additional paid days off for workers as the nation prepares for a presidential runoff against his right-wing rival, Flavio Bolsonaro. The event saw a vast crowd congregate along Sao Paulo's Paulista Avenue, which was adorned in shades of red, the color associated with Lula's Workers' Party.

Lula, who is seeking a fourth term in office, is endeavoring to narrow the gap with Bolsonaro, who emerged as an unexpected victor in the initial vote on October 4. Recent polls indicate that Bolsonaro, the son of the former president Jair Bolsonaro, is on track to secure victory in the October 25 runoff.

Bolsonaro has floated a plan to reduce public spending, a proposal influenced by Argentina's Javier Milei. Meanwhile, Lula is targeting enhanced working conditions as a central theme of his campaign. The Senate is slated to deliberate on legislation, approved by the lower house in May, aimed at increasing weekly paid days off from one to two, and curbing the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours.

Addressing reporters, Lula posed a question to Bolsonaro: "Has he decided whether he favors workers having more time to rest or should they continue working longer hours?" Bolsonaro has dismissed the proposal as "opportunistic."