Voters in Brazil to choose between Lula and Bolsonaro’s son

Brazilian citizens will be casting their votes on Sunday in a closely contested presidential runoff election. The two main contenders are 80-year-old incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and 45-year-old right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after his loss in the 2022 election.

This marks Bolsonaro's second attempt to win the presidency, having initially come out on top in the first round of voting on October 4th, which was deemed a "very big" victory by US President Donald Trump. Bolsonaro's campaign promises include a tough approach to organized crime, along with tax and public spending reductions. Polling locations in key states, such as Minas Gerais, are considered critical for any presidential hopeful's success.

Flávio Bolsonaro has pledged to pardon his father and address the country's issues of violence, terrorism, and drug trafficking. In contrast, Lula's Workers' Party has framed the election as a fight for democracy, arguing that Jair Bolsonaro's coup conviction presents a threat to Brazil's democratic institutions. Lula is expected to be in São Paulo to witness the results on Sunday, while Flávio Bolsonaro will be in Brasília, the capital, where his father is currently undergoing house arrest.