Brasília: Brazil’s presidential election has entered a decisive stage, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva preparing to intensify his campaign ahead of the October 25 runoff.
Lula is expected to meet political allies in Brasília to discuss strategy for the second round and explore ways to broaden his support across the country. The talks are likely to involve politicians who contested Senate and state governor elections in the first round, as both campaigns seek to build wider political alliances.
Voter turnout is emerging as a key issue. More than 33.3 million voters reportedly abstained in the October 4 first round, accounting for about 21.07 per cent of the electorate. Lula’s campaign is expected to focus on encouraging non-voters to participate in the runoff while also seeking the backing of supporters of candidates who failed to advance.
The first-round presidential contest remained closely fought. With 96.78 per cent of ballot boxes counted in the figures cited, Flávio Bolsonaro had 47.39 per cent of valid votes, while Lula had 44.74 per cent. As counting progressed, the gap narrowed, but neither candidate secured the majority required to win outright.
The Liberal Party, associated with the Bolsonaro political camp, also made significant gains in the legislative elections, reportedly securing 19 Senate seats. The result could strengthen the party’s position in Congress and add another dimension to the presidential runoff.
Lula has signalled that he is prepared for a direct contest between the two remaining candidates, framing the runoff as a choice between different political projects.
With the final vote scheduled for October 25, both campaigns are expected to concentrate on voter mobilisation, regional alliances and attracting support from those who backed eliminated candidates. The large pool of non-voters could also become an important factor as Brazil heads towards the final stage of the presidential race.
