By Zoila Palma: Thousands of supporters of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro took to the streets today as the candidates made their final appeals ahead of a closely contested presidential runoff election. Lula supporters filled Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach with the red colours of his Workers’ Party, while hundreds of bikers and other supporters rallied behind Bolsonaro in Belo Horizonte.
The rallies capped a bitter campaign that has deepened political divisions in Latin America’s largest country, AFP reports.
Lula, who turns 81 next week, waved a large Brazilian flag from a campaign truck as he addressed the crowd in Rio de Janeiro. He urged voters to choose between someone who respects Brazil’s national flag and someone who embraces the American flag.
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s supporters expressed confidence in his chances after he secured 47 percent of the vote in the first round, compared with Lula’s 45 percent.
A Datafolha Institute poll released during the week showed the candidates tied at 50 percent of voting intentions.
The election has drawn attention across the region as Brazil considers whether to continue under left-wing leadership or join a broader political shift toward the right.
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