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Lula backers fill Rio beach on eve of Brazil runoff vote

Nearly 159 million Brazilians are eligible to vote on Sunday, with the president and Flávio Bolsonaro level in the polls after a first round split 47% to 45%.

By the NationsDesk desk

· 2 days ago

Lula backers fill Rio beach on eve of Brazil runoff vote
Photograph: Photograph: Agustín Marcarian/Reuters

What to know

  • More than one million supporters of the incumbent attended the rally on Rio's best-known beach.
  • Bolsonaro took the first round on 4 October with 47% of the vote against 45% for Lula.
  • The runoff is scheduled for Sunday, and the two candidates are tied in polling.

More than a million backers of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva gathered on Rio de Janeiro's most celebrated beach, hoping the show of strength will carry him through Sunday's runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro. Nearly 159 million voters are registered to cast ballots in the second round, which follows a first-round result that put the challenger narrowly ahead.

Bolsonaro won the opening round on 4 October with 47% to the incumbent's 45%, and the pair are now level in the polls, according to the Guardian. The report does not say how the crowd figure was compiled, and no polling margin or survey source is given for the tie.

Reporting credit

Written by the NationsDesk desk. The underlying reporting is by The Guardian.

Brazil Elections Lula Bolsonaro

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