{
  "id": 1371026,
  "title": "Lula y Flávio Bolsonaro abren la campaña brasileña en sus respectivas cunas políticas",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/lula-y-flavio-bolsonaro-abren-la-campana-brasilena-en-sus-respectivas",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T22:46:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MercoPress",
    "slug": "mercopress",
    "url": "https://en.mercopress.com/2026/08/16/lula-y-flavio-bolsonaro-abren-la-campana-brasilena-en-sus-respectivas-cunas-politicas"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The two frontrunners for Brazil's presidency, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, kicked off their campaigns on Sunday with rallies in locations reflecting their political histories. President Lula da Silva, 80, drew over 10,000 supporters to Vila Euclides stadium in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, the site where he gained prominence 47 years ago as a metalworkers union leader during the military dictatorship. He wore a hat, a result of a skin cancer diagnosis, and emphasized his commitment to continuity in social policies. Lula stated, \"People ask me why I want a fourth term. Because, as long as I am alive, I will not allow the right, responsible for 400,000 Covid deaths through irresponsibility, to return,\" referring to the political party behind his opponent. His running mate, vice-president Geraldo Alckmin, introduced him at the rally. Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, addressed a crowd on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, where he appeared in a bulletproof vest under a yellow T-shirt. Without evidence, he claimed to have received 1,800 death threats. Bolsonaro criticized the current government, alleging it had driven families into debt, caused losses at state companies, and was soft on drug trafficking, asserting, \"corruption has reached the president's office.\" He pledged to combat crime and remove \"left-wing ideology\" from schools. A poll by Quaest projected Lula with 43% support and Bolsonaro with 40% in a potential runoff, with a margin of error of two points. Disapproval ratings stood at 54% for the senator and 52% for the president. Seven in ten respondents said they had already decided their vote. Lula's father, Jair Bolsonaro, currently serves a sentence for attempting a coup after his 2022 defeat and is barred from holding office. Lula won the previous election by 1.8 points. In addition to the presidency, votes will also be cast for governors, the Chamber of Deputies, and two-thirds of the Senate on October 4. A runoff, if necessary, is scheduled for October 25.",
  "summary": "Brazil's two leading presidential candidates launched their campaigns for the October 4 elections on Sunday with rallies at the venues associated with their political trajectories. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva drew more than 10,000 supporters to the Vila Euclides stadium in São Bernardo do Campo, in São Paulo's industrial belt, while Senator Flávio Bolsonaro gathered his backers on…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}