Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro conclude campaigns ahead of close presidential election

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro wrapped up their election campaigns on Saturday ahead of Sunday's presidential vote. Al Jazeera and France 24 both reported that both candidates held events to rally supporters in the key state of Sao Paulo. The state contains a fifth of the nation's electorate, according to France 24. [1][2]

The 80-year-old incumbent president closed his re-election bid with a march through the state capital, Al Jazeera reported. Lula told supporters that he would win the election in the first round. However, Al Jazeera noted that recent polling shows his lead over Bolsonaro is narrowing, making an outright victory in the first round unlikely. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, recent poll results from CNT and MDA indicated that Lula's lead over his main rival had tightened. CNBC reported that Wall Street financial markets are preparing for two starkly different economic outcomes depending on the results of the presidential election. [4][5][6][7][12]

Lula is a member of the Workers' Party who previously served as president of Brazil from 2003 to 2011 before taking office again in 2023. Voters in South America's largest country will cast their ballots on Sunday to decide the first-round contest. [1][2][10]