Lula, Bolsonaro trade barbs in final debate

With just two days remaining before Brazil's presidential runoff, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro are intensifying their campaigns to win over the approximately 33 million voters who abstained in the first round. While polls show the race to be neck and neck, with only a small percentage of undecided voters, luring those who stayed home on October 4 could be the key to the election.

Recent polls from Datafolha and Quaest have the two candidates locked in a statistical tie, with Bolsonaro at 51% and Lula at 49% of valid votes, and Lula at 46% and Bolsonaro at 44% of total voting intentions. In the first round, Bolsonaro secured 47.03% of the vote, while Lula received 45.16%. In Brazil since 1989, a candidate who came in second place in the first round has never gone on to win the presidency.

Both campaigns are targeting two specific groups whose voting rates are low: individuals over 70, who typically have higher abstention rates, and 16- and 17-year-olds. Lula's campaign has enlisted the help of activists and supporters through street rallies, online platforms, and the popular "Lula's Army" WhatsApp channel, boasting millions of followers.

Meanwhile, the Bolsonaro campaign has received support from nearly all right-wing and centre-right parties as well as ten governors elected in the first round. The Bolsonaro message has focused on security and the economy, promising to create a Ministry of Prosperity while preserving social programs. He has rallied his supporters both on the streets and online through channels like "Flávio’s Troop".

However, the digital campaign has also landed in court, with both campaigns accusing Meta of providing unequal treatment on its platforms. The Superior Electoral Court has since ordered Meta to ensure equal access for both candidates. The two rivals are set to face off in their final televised debate on Friday, with the vote taking place on Sunday.