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Brazil's Lula, Flavio Bolsonaro wrap up campaigns ahead of first-round vote

First reported 29 Sept, 09:51 UTCUpdated 59m ago30 sources

11 left · 16 center · 3 right · Full breakdown

SAO PAULO/SANTA BARBARA D'OESTE, Brazil, Oct 3 - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro wrapped up their campaigns on Saturday ahead of Sunday's first-round presidential election, each expressing confidence of victory despite polls pointing to a likely runoff.

Compare the headlines

How outlets on each side framed it

From the Left
NPR
Brazil's big political rematch: What to know

Four years after President Lula narrowly defeated Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil is back at the ballot box. This time, Lula faces Bolsonaro's son, Flávio, in a high-stakes rematch.

From the Center
The Economist
Brazil rut: Lula v Bolsonaro, again

Also on the daily podcast: the high cost of honour culture and phone-free gigs

From the Right
National Post
Lula, Bolsonaro in final push for votes ahead of knife-edge election in Brazil

Making make a final pitch to voters Saturday with rallies in the pivotal state of Sao Paulo ahead of a nail-biter election

Full coverage

30 outlets — tap a headline to read it at the source

  1. The EconomistCenterGBVery high factuality
    Brazil rut: Lula v Bolsonaro, again (opens The Economist in a new tab)

    Also on the daily podcast: the high cost of honour culture and phone-free gigs

  2. Buenos Aires TimesLean LeftARHigh factuality
    Poll: Lula and Bolsonaro deadlocked in final week of election campaign (opens Buenos Aires Times in a new tab)

    President and right-wing challenger running neck and neck as Brazil’s presidential race enters its closing days, new poll polls. Leer más

  3. Scroll.inLeftINMostly factual
    Days to go for polling, Brazil sees a lackluster election campaign (opens Scroll.in in a new tab)

    President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is running against Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of incarcerated former President Jair Bolsonaro.

  4. JacobinFar LeftUSMixed factuality
    Brazil’s Presidential Election Is Going Down to the Wire (opens Jacobin in a new tab)

    As the Brazilian presidential election draws closer, Lula is in a very tight contest with Flávio Bolsonaro, son and heir of the Bolsonaro dynasty. The election is a struggle between Brazil’s democratic forces and the return to power of a reactionary bloc.

  5. The Straits TimesCenterSGHigh factuality
    Lula leads Bolsonaro by 3 points in Brazil runoff scenario, Datafolha poll shows (opens The Straits Times in a new tab)

    SAO PAULO, Oct 1 - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva leads Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, his main challenger, in a potential runoff ahead of this month's election, a Datafolha poll showed on Thursday.

  6. The GuardianLeftGBHigh factuality
    The Bolsonaros…they’re back! Brazil heads to the polls – podcast (opens The Guardian in a new tab)

    Latin America correspondent Tom Phillips reports on this Sunday’s historic presidential elections in Brazil, as the son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro hopes to take power You would have been forgiven for thinking that when Jair Bolsonaro was convicted in September 2025 of attempting a coup, his political…

  7. Al JazeeraLean LeftQAMostly factual
    Everything you need to know about Brazil’s tight presidential race (opens Al Jazeera in a new tab)

    Voters will soon decide between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

  8. France 24CenterFRHigh factuality
    Lula and Bolsonaro’s mudslinging heats up ahead of weekend vote (opens France 24 in a new tab)

    The mudslinging between Brazil’s incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his election rival, Flavio Bolsonaro, has heated up ahead of what is expected to be an extremely close vote this weekend. From stating loose rumours as facts, to taking comments completely out of their context, they are both doing…

  9. South China Morning PostCenterHKMostly factual
    Lula and Bolsonaro clash in final scramble for Brazil presidency (opens South China Morning Post in a new tab)

    Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his election rival Flavio Bolsonaro are leaving no controversy unturned in their last-ditch efforts to discredit each other and win over voters ahead of Sunday’s nail-biter election. A campaign dominated by scandals and insults has done little to ease the deep political…

  10. MercoPressCenterUYMostly factual
    Brazil heads to the polls without a single debate between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro (opens MercoPress in a new tab)

    Brazilian broadcaster Globo on Thursday cancelled, an hour before it was due to start, the last presidential debate scheduled before Sunday's first round, following a series of court rulings and the absence of both President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. The two leading candidates thus head…

  11. SemaforCenterUSHigh factuality
    Brazil faces uncertain diplomatic future after elections (opens Semafor in a new tab)

    President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is in effect tied with his main challenger, Flávio Bolsonaro, though neither appears likely to win outright in Sunday’s first-round vote.

  12. BloombergCenterUSVery high factuality
    Brazil Consular Services Halted by US, Australia Before Election (opens Bloomberg in a new tab)

    The US and Australia suspended consular services in Brazil, citing “security concerns” ahead of the country’s general elections on Sunday.

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