Presidential elections begin in Brazil amid intense competition between Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro

Voters in Brazil are heading to the polls today, Sunday (October 4, 2026), to elect a new president, in light of a particularly intense competition between current leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (80 years old) and far-right Senator Flavio Bolsonaro (45 years old), the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro. Opinion polls have placed the two men on the list of the most likely candidates in the elections, which number 12 candidates for the position of president.

In addition to Lula and Bolsonaro, the list includes governors Ronaldo Caillado and Romeo Zema, in addition to psychiatrist and author Augusto Cori, while the rest of the candidates are significantly behind in opinion polls from the two candidates most likely to win.

It is not expected that any of the most likely candidates will succeed in obtaining the absolute majority needed to win in the first round, which makes a runoff between them on October 25 likely.

Trump is following the elections “closely”

Commenting on the elections in the largest country in Latin America, US President Donald Trump, who had a strong friendship with Senator Bolsonaro's father, said that he was following "closely" this "extremely important" electoral entitlement.

During the recent period, Latin America witnessed a noticeable rise of right-wing movements, with candidates supported by Trump coming to power in several countries, including Colombia and Peru. Two days before the vote, the United States announced the suspension of its embassy and consulate services in Brazil, while Australia closed its embassy for security reasons without providing further details.

Sharp polarization

Issues of crime, the role of the state, the independence of the Supreme Court, and relations with the United States dominated the election campaign. Flavio Bolsonaro (Liberal Party) campaigned for cuts in government services and a tougher stance on crime. In contrast, Lula (from the Workers' Party) promised to continue the social programs and public investments launched by his government, while maintaining a strong role for the state.

Lula da Silva, who returned to the presidency in 2023, is seeking to win a fourth term, and had previously served as president from 2003 to 2010.

It is noteworthy that Flavio Bolsonaro has been a member of the Senate since 2019, and is running in the presidential elections for the first time. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, narrowly lost the last presidential election to Lula in 2022. The Supreme Court later sentenced him to more than 27 years in prison for the attempted coup following his defeat in the elections.

Bolsonaro is currently serving his sentence under house arrest due to health problems.