Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) and Lula (PT) in campaign events. — Photo: Reuters
In the last week before the second round of the election, scheduled for next Sunday (25), the campaigns of Lula (PT) and Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) are betting on debates and mobilization in the streets, mainly in the Southeast states, which have the largest electoral colleges in the country, to win votes in the final stretch of the dispute.
While the PT member intends to explore measures of popular appeal to try to reverse the advantage of Flávio, who received more votes in the first round, the senator is preparing an offensive to counter his opponent's attacks and intensify the dissemination of his proposals and reinforce that he will maintain social programs.
The Datafolha survey released on Thursday (15) showed Flávio with 47% of voting intentions and Lula with 45%, in a technical tie. The Quaest survey, released on Wednesday (14), also showed a technical tie: 46% for the PL candidate and 44% for the president.
Given this scenario, Lula's campaign assesses that there is room for a turnaround. Flávio Bolsonaro's allies, although confident of victory, recognize the need to intensify mobilization to secure the advantage.
Flávio Bolsonaro prepares responses and releases proposals
Brazil's presidential candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, from the Liberal Party (PL), campaigns in the Sarandí neighborhood, one of the areas hardest hit by the historic floods of 2024, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on October 14, 2026 — Photo: REUTERS/Diego Vara
In Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign, team members interviewed by g1 state that the senator intends to intensify responses to Lula's attacks and explore excerpts of the debates between the two candidates scheduled for the final stretch of the dispute on social media. The last one will be carried out by TV Globo, on Friday (23).
In recent days, part of the senator's electoral propaganda and publications have focused on refuting accusations that, if elected, he will cut social benefits. Now, the allies want to reinforce the dissemination of responses to information that they classify as false and, at the same time, give more space to the candidate's proposals.
The senator's government plan does not foresee cuts in social programs. Lula's campaign, however, associates this risk with Flávio's statements in defense of reducing state spending.
In the campaign's assessment, a more purposeful approach could help the PL candidate to win over less ideological voters, since supporters more aligned with the candidacy would already be mobilized.
End of the 6x1 scale puts pressure on the senator’s campaign
One of Lula's main bets in the final stretch of the dispute also became a point of attention for Flávio's campaign: the end of the 6x1 scale, promulgated by Congress on Friday (16) after approval in the Senate.
After finishing the first round with around 2.2 million votes less than Flávio Bolsonaro (a difference of 1.87 percentage points), the president acted to speed up the approval of the proposal, which has the support of 61% of Brazilians, according to a Quaest survey released this week.
In the opinion of interlocutors from both campaigns, the discussion has the potential to change votes and expanded the space dedicated to the candidates' proposals.
Flávio Bolsonaro, who criticized the initiative, changed his position and voted in favor. Lula's campaign then began to exploit this change to accuse his opponent of opportunism.
In the final stretch, Flávio's campaign also intends to reinforce mobilization on the streets, with events in cities considered strategic and plans to participate on Saturday (24) in an event in Belo Horizonte organized by Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG), a deputy re-elected with a record number of votes. Afterwards, you will head to Rio de Janeiro.
This Sunday (18), the senator will also be alongside Nikolas on Avenida Paulista, in São Paulo. The act is seen by the opposition as a response to the demonstration held in the same location, in support of Lula, last week.
The campaign is also evaluating promoting activities in cities in the Northeast, a region where Lula's allies seek to reduce the president's advantage.
Lula bets on debates and mobilization in the streets
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Workers' Party (PT) candidate for re-election, gestures during a campaign rally before the second round of elections, in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on October 16, 2026 — Photo: REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
PT members interviewed by g1 summarize Lula's strategy for the final stretch of the second round on two fronts: “debate and street”.
The PT campaign must maintain the pace of mobilization, and the president intends to maintain his travel schedule across the country, with priority for the Southeast. To end the campaign, the party announced an event on Avenida Paulista, in São Paulo, on Saturday (24), the day before the vote.
In the debates, the aim is to highlight measures with popular appeal, such as the proposal for zero fares on public transport on weekends, the end of the 6x1 scale and the project that increases the revenue limit for individual micro-entrepreneurs (MEIs) and provides for the forgiveness of the category's debts. Lula also promised to create a Nestlé program for university students if he is re-elected.
In the opinion of allies, the president's campaign managed to take the initiative in the political debate. They point out as positive factors the performance on social media, the support of artists and changes in campaign coordination. They also consider the loss of space for topics such as the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and the Banco Master case in public discussion to be favorable.
“This doesn’t affect people’s lives,” stated Jilmar Tatto, PT’s national secretary of Communication, in reference to these issues. “While the other side is setting up offices and ministries, we are on the streets campaigning.”
The second round campaign was also marked by an offensive on social media. Lula started recording videos in selfie format and brought together young elected influencers, such as Ana Eliza (PT-MG), Guilherme Cortez (PSOL-SP) and Ana Júlia Ribeiro (PT-PR), to expand his presence on digital platforms.
Another change was the entry of PT leaders from the Northeast in charge of the campaign. Senator Camilo Santana (PT-CE), former Minister of Education and former governor of Ceará, assumed political coordination. Elected senator Rui Costa (PT-BA), former minister of the Civil House and former governor of Bahia, was responsible for the agenda, while the re-elected governor of Piauí, Rafael Fonteles (PT), began coordinating communication.
