Brazil’s presidential election will be decided on Sunday, 24 October, when the country’s two leading candidates face off in a second round. Flávio Bolsonaro, the 45‑year‑old son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, entered the first round as the surprise frontrunner with 47 % of the vote, while incumbent left‑wing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured 45 %. Recent polling by Datafolha shows the race narrowed to a 50‑50 split, indicating a very close contest. Both candidates concluded their campaigns with large rallies on Saturday. Lula’s supporters gathered on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, chanting and waving large red flags of the Workers’ Party. The president, who will turn 81 next week, addressed the crowd from the roof of a truck, urging voters to choose “someone who embraces the national flag, or someone who embraces the American flag.” In Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, a key electoral barometer, thousands of Flávio Bolsonaro supporters filled Praça da Liberdade, including a notable contingent of motorcyclists. Bolsonaro’s campaign also visited the former residence of his father in Rio, who is currently serving a 27‑year sentence for an attempted coup. During the final televised debate on Friday evening, the candidates exchanged sharp criticisms. Lula accused Bolsonaro of lacking experience and of being a “candidate of the past,” while Bolsonaro portrayed Lula as a “country ruined” by policies that “no longer work.” Bolsonaro also warned that Lula “does not know Brazil” and “does not know what hunger is.” The debate, though less vitriolic than the first, highlighted the stark policy divide: Bolsonaro’s platform emphasizes tough crime measures, pro‑business reforms, and closer ties with the United States, mirroring his father’s approach. Lula, meanwhile, has expanded social assistance for the poor and positioned himself as a defender of national sovereignty against U.S. commercial and diplomatic pressures, particularly those linked to former President Donald Trump. The outcome of Brazil’s election is expected to have significant implications for Latin America. Several countries in the region have swung to the right since the U.S. returned to power in 2025, and the election could reinforce or reverse that trend. For example, Abelardo de la Espriella, an extreme‑right candidate backed by the U.S. administration, recently won Colombia’s presidency. However, recent polls suggest a decline in popularity for newly elected conservative leaders across the region. Lula has filed a legal challenge to disqualify Bolsonaro, a move mirrored by Bolsonaro’s own attempt to contest Lula’s eligibility. The legal proceedings are ongoing as the nation prepares for a decisive vote that could shape the political direction of Brazil and its neighbors for years to come.