Leftist Veteran Leads Polls Ahead of Critical Election

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s former president, is on the verge of a stunning political return, with the 76-year-old leftist leader leading in the polls ahead of Sunday’s election. Lula is widely expected to challenge far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, who has seen his support wane due to his handling of the pandemic and other controversial actions.

At a rally in Rio de Janeiro’s Portela samba school, Lula’s supporters expressed their eagerness for his return, with some claiming that his presidency was a time when Brazil prospered. One supporter, Natan Vitor da Silva Rosa, spoke passionately about the positive impact Lula had on Brazil, contrasting it with Bolsonaro’s divisive leadership.

Polls show Lula leading Bolsonaro by up to 17 points, with predictions that Lula could win in the first round of voting, avoiding a runoff. However, analysts caution that factors such as voter turnout, weather, and potential violence could still affect the final result.