Lula and Bolsonaro Close Campaign With Rallies in Rio and Minas Gerais

Brazilian voters faced a stark choice on Saturday as the two leading presidential candidates held their final public appearances before the runoff vote scheduled for Sunday. The events marked the end of a tight campaign that has left the country divided over economic policy and governance.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addressed a crowd at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. The 80-year-old incumbent wore a red hat and waved a national flag from a campaign truck. He framed the election as a choice between domestic loyalty and foreign alignment. "The people must choose either someone who kisses the national flag or someone who kisses the American flag," Lula said, referencing his rival's relationship with US President Donald Trump.

In the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, Flavio Bolsonaro held a separate gathering. Hundreds of motorcyclists wearing yellow national football shirts participated in the event. The senator and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro sought to consolidate support in a region that played a key role in the first round.

The race has remained statistically close since the initial vote. Bolsonaro received 47 percent of the vote in the first round, while Lula captured 45 percent. A CNT/MDA poll released Saturday showed Bolsonaro leading 46.3 percent to 45 percent. This margin of 1.3 percentage points is within the 2.2 percentage point margin of error. A week earlier, the same poll showed a similar gap, with Bolsonaro at 46.8 percent and Lula at 45.9 percent.

Supporters of both candidates articulated distinct visions for the country's future. Ebert Dorigo, a motorcyclist at the Bolsonaro event, argued that the Workers' Party had fostered dependence on government welfare. "The values we uphold are nation and family," Dorigo told the AFP news agency. He contended that the country needed a shift toward policies that rewarded hard work over state support.

Bolsonaro has pledged to cut government spending and add hundreds of thousands of prison places to address crime. His father, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, is currently serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup after the 2022 election loss. The candidates held a calmer debate on Friday, though they continued to trade accusations regarding Brazil's economic difficulties.

Gabriela Ribeiro Viana, an event organizer, described the voting decision as difficult. "If there were any other candidate, that would be a better option," she told AFP. "But we're stuck choosing between the worst, the horrible, and the lesser evil."