Voting under way across Brazil in tight presidential run-off between Lula and Bolsonaro

To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Brazil’s 158 million voters decide between leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing challenger Senator Flavio Bolsonaro – the son of former president and Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro – following a highly charged run-off campaign period, with the candidates in a dead heat in polls. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments. Veteran pro-union President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suddenly found himself the underdog after right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro took 47% compared to 45% for the incumbent in the October 4 first round. A combative, three-week run-off campaign turned the political atmosphere electric. The left threw all its energy into securing a comeback, taking to the streets and mobilising on social media – notably with a WhatsApp channel dubbed "Lula’s Army" that now boasts 8.5 million subscribers. Lula, a former labour leader, is seeking a fourth (non-consecutive) term in what he has framed as his final battle. Bolsonaro, promising a hardline stance on security and improvements in the cost of living, has vowed to "send Lula into retirement". He has also pledged that his first act, if elected, will be to pardon his father, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence – under house arrest – for his role in a 2022 attempted coup d’état, when his supporters stormed parliament in an attempt to cling to power after his own electoral defeat to Lula. US President Donald Trump, a staunch ally of the Bolsonaro clan, has signaled his support for hard-right movements across Latin America – a region where such forces have secured a string of electoral victories, including in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. What to know as Brazilians choose between Lula and Bolsonaro in tense presidential runoff 🎥 Brazilians head to polls for runoff between Lula and Bolsonaro Brazilians began voting in Sunday’s polarizing presidential election between incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro. FRANCE 24 Jan Onoszko tells us the latest from Rio de Janeiro ⬇️ Brazil's tense presidential run-off campaign feels like a psychological thriller Lula, Bolsonaro rallied supporters on their final day before the presidential runoff Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro wrapped up their campaigns on Saturday ahead of Sunday's presidential runoff vote, mobilizing supporters and making a final push for undecided voters. Lula, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, kicked off his last day of campaigning with a march along Rio de Janeiro's iconic Copacabana beach, where thousands of supporters joined the leftist incumbent under a blazing sun. Later, the president led another march in Sao Paulo, passing along Paulista Avenue, a traditional venue for political demonstrations in Brazil's largest city. Bolsonaro, meanwhile, joined a motorcycle caravan in Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, a key battleground state. No candidate has won the presidency without carrying Minas Gerais since the country's return to democracy in the 1980s. He later took part in a campaign march in his home state of Rio de Janeiro, which he has represented in the Senate since 2019. In their last election debate, Lula and Bolsonaro clashed on the cost of living, security and corruption On Friday, Lula and Bolsonaro met for a final debate on TV Globo, the country's main free-to-air television channel, where they sparred over the cost of living and traded personal attacks. Read more below ⬇️ Polls open in Brazil for tight runoff between leftist Lula and Bolsonaro Brazilians are heading to the polls for a presidential runoff that pits leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, a far-right ally of US President Donald Trump. Bolsonaro, the son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro, bested Lula by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round of the election earlier this month. More than 33 million of the nearly 160 million registered voters did not turn out. All the polls across Brazil are now open and voting is underway. Results are expected sometime after 5pm local time (9pm GMT). Brazil votes in tight runoff between leftist Lula and Bolsonaro Brazilians are heading to the polls for a presidential runoff that pits leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, a far-right ally of US President Donald Trump. Bolsonaro, the son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro, bested Lula by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round of the election earlier this month. More than 33 million of the nearly 160 million registered voters did not turn out. Thousands march against a return to a right-wing Bolsonaro presidency After a first-round loss, the incumbent becomes the underdog Veteran pro-union President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva led his rival by 15 points in opinion polls just a month before the vote. But after right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro took 47% compared to 45% for the incumbent in the October 4 first round, Lula suddenly found himself the underdog. Brazil's presidential run-off goes down to the wire A tense campaign ahead of the run-off marked by name-calling and accusations Insults traded on social media and a combative debate have intensified the pressure ahead of a fiercely contested presidential run-off on Sunday, with only a few points separating leftist pro-union President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and far-right challenger Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former president and Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro. Meta ordered to prove it gives Lula and Bolsonaro campaigns equal treatment Brazil’s top electoral court has given Meta 24 hours to prove it is treating campaign content from incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro equally on its online platforms, threatening a daily fine for noncompliance. The ruling follows allegations from Lula's campaign that the social media giant is suppressing Lula’s campaign content ahead of a closely contested presidential runoff. [Image text:] JUSTICA ELEITORAL CABINA DE VOTACAO