Brazilians head to the polls today to face a crucial choice: four more years under current leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva or a return to the right under Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
This will be Lula's last presidential runoff. The 81-year-old hopes to turn the tide after finishing second in the first round behind the former president's son, Jair Bolsonaro.
Recent polls show a very close race between the two candidates.
Today's runoff will determine whether Brazil remains on the left or joins the right wing, which is backed by US President Donald Trump, an ally of the Bolsonaro family.
Lula, seeking a fourth term, has presented himself as a bulwark against US interference and democratic backsliding, and has pledged to expand social protection.
Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, pledged to eradicate crime and cut government spending, handing Brazil over to "the Lord Jesus Christ," presenting a vision for change that resonated with Brazilians seeking a fresh approach.
"Enough is enough," said João Paulo, 37, at a rally in Belo Horizonte. "We've spent almost 16 years under this administration, and it's clear it hasn't worked. It's time for a change."
Bolsonaro has been careful to portray himself as more moderate than his father, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after losing to Lula in the 2022 election.
He vowed that if elected, his first act would be to release Jair Bolsonaro, a deeply divisive figure in Brazil whose legacy loomed large during his eldest son's campaign.
Following the first-round defeat, the left mobilized strongly, organizing mass rallies under the slogan "We will never allow Bolsonaro to return." Protesters recalled the former president's chaotic handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, and the reduction of government programs and public services.
Deforestation in the world's largest rainforest reached its lowest level in four decades under Lula's rule.
But while the El Niño weather phenomenon fueled the fires that have suffocated Amazonian cities with smoke in recent weeks, climate change was not a major focus of the campaign.
- Controversial Policies -
Lula, who is credited with social welfare programs that lifted millions out of poverty, returned to power in the 2022 elections after a major corruption scandal led to his imprisonment for more than 18 months.
The charges, which were dropped on procedural grounds, still haunt him.
During his third term, Brazil saw a decrease in inflation and unemployment rates, and millions were lifted out of hunger, but voters They complain about the high cost of living and are fed up with rampant crime.
Lula's popular social policies have become a source of tension, as he expanded social welfare programs during his election campaign while his critics demand that the government curb spending.
"Even if some call them handouts or handouts, they have been a tremendous help to us," said Walter dos Santos, 56, who lives in northeastern Brazil, a region considered a stronghold of the president, who hails from there. Because those who have experienced hunger fully understand the importance of these programs and don't consider their existence trivial.
- The Next Day -
After the blow he suffered in the first round, Lula revamped his social media strategy, resorting to recording videos and buying his first mobile phone.
A fierce battle erupted on social media, involving Meta Group, the owner of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. Lula's campaign accused Meta of bias toward his opponent through algorithmic manipulation.
Meta denied the accusations but acknowledged that some of Lula's campaign ads were mistakenly suspended due to technical issues.
Regardless of the winner, Brazil faces a difficult and turbulent period after the elections.
"If the left wins, it will face four years under a hostile Congress and threats of impeachment," said political analyst Thomas Traumann, referring to the right's significant legislative gains.
"If the far right wins, it will be a vindictive government targeting the Supreme Court," which the right wing harbors deep resentment against. A bitter feud has erupted since Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting a coup.
Flavio Bolsonaro said he would seek to remove Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the case against his father.
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