The facts
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro concluded their election campaigns on Saturday, both expressing confidence in victory before Sunday's first-round presidential vote. Lula, 80, held a rally in Sao Paulo, telling supporters, “Tomorrow, we’re going to win the elections in the first round,” and framing the vote as a choice between “democracy and barbarism.” He also warned against “meddling” by Washington. Bolsonaro, 45, led a motorcycle caravan and later rallied in Rio de Janeiro, stating, “I am convinced that everything is in place for us to win this election in the first round.” He is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a prison sentence for attempting to overturn his 2022 election loss to Lula. Recent polls indicate Lula maintains a lead, but it is narrowing, with neither candidate expected to secure an outright win on Sunday.
Our take
This is a beautiful goddamn mess of democracy in action. Lula, 80, thinks he's the avatar of 'democracy' against 'barbarism,' but his main achievement isn't being slightly less of a shit than Bolsonaro. Lula warned against 'meddling' by Washington, a hilarious bit of projection from a man whose campaign is meddling in his own political irrelevance. He's confident of a first-round win despite polls showing his lead shrinking fast. Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, concluded his campaign by leading a motorcycle caravan, because nothing says 'serious statesman' like revving a Harley. His closing speech was a masterclass in bullshit: 'I am convinced that everything is in place for us to win this election in the first round.' The only thing 'in place' is his dad's prison cell, which he's pledged to get him out of. Let's not forget the backdrop: Junior is under investigation for defaming Lula and is tangled in a film-funding scandal. The polls say neither will win outright, so the country gets to endure another month of this circus before a run-off. It's like watching two bald men fight over a comb, except the comb is a crumbling democracy and both men are absolute shits.
