Brazil Holds Presidential Election Between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faces a close election challenge from Flávio Bolsonaro, who campaigns on privatization and anti-crime measures.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is competing for a fourth term as president of Brazil in a close election against Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro. Lula's campaign focuses on patriotism and the expansion of social programs, though he contends with rising violent crime and slowing economic growth.
Flávio Bolsonaro is running on a platform of spending cuts, privatization, and an aggressive anti-crime drive. He has pledged to appoint conservative judges to the supreme court and seeks to free his father, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup.
The race has been impacted by the Banco Master financial scandal, involving allegations that Flávio Bolsonaro sought $27 million from bank owner Daniel Vorcaro to fund a film about his father. While Flávio Bolsonaro has stated he will abide by the results, his family's history of questioning the electronic voting system suggests a narrow victory for Lula could be contested.
