The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, would be in the lead in the first round of the presidential elections this Sunday with 43.1% support, compared to the 38% that his main opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro, would garner, according to a new poll.
The survey, conducted by the firm CNT/MDA, sets the difference between the candidate of the Workers' Party (PT, left) and the representative of the Liberal Party (PL, far right) at 5.1 points. Much further behind are Augusto Cury, with 3.2%; Ronaldo Caiado, with 3%; and Renan Santos, with 1.5%.
Considering only valid votes — that is, excluding blank, null, and undecided votes — Lula would reach 47.8%, while Bolsonaro would obtain 42.1%. With these figures, the head of state would be only 2.2 points away from securing reelection in the first round.
For a potential runoff, the study projects that Lula would achieve 47.3% of the votes, compared to Bolsonaro's 43.1%, which would imply a lead of 4.2 points.
The fieldwork was carried out through face-to-face interviews conducted between September 29 and October 2. The poll presents a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 points and a confidence level of 95%.
Last hours of campaigning in São Paulo
In parallel, the candidates are making the most of this Saturday, the last day of campaigning before the election, with events in the city of São Paulo. Lula has attacked his opponent, whom he has described as "a gang leader," linked to organized crime, while Bolsonaro insists from within the state on a "victory in the first round."
"Tomorrow we go to the polls with great calm, knowing what is at stake. On one side, democracy and sovereignty, on the other, barbarism and corruption. On the other side, there is a gang leader. We are working against organized crime. That is why we will need your strength," Lula has appealed to his supporters.
Flávio Bolsonaro, for his part, has directed his criticisms at the justices of the Federal Supreme Court, whom he accuses of acting as "political agents" of Lula, and has called for changes so that the highest court stops being a "delegation of the Police."
"The highest court must stop being a delegation of the Police (...). I regret that Lula's friends are doing everything, trying to help Lula to be reelected," denounced the leader of the PL.
Hours earlier, on his social networks, he had predicted an immediate victory at the polls. "It is a sign of victory in the first round. Thank you, Sao Paulo. Thank you, Brazil. There are only a few hours left for the people to free our Brazil," he has stated.