As eleições presidenciais brasileiras estão sendo acompanhadas com atenção pela comunidade internacional. Após o primeiro turno, líderes de diversos países manifestaram publicamente suas preferências, dividindo-se entre os dois candidatos que disputam o segundo turno.
De acordo com analista sênior de Internacional da CNN, Américo Martins, a divisão entre os apoiadores internacionais segue uma linha ideológica bastante clara.
“Aqueles líderes que são progressistas, que têm uma visão de esquerda, apoiam o presidente Lula (PT). E aqueles que são mais conservadores, mais à direita, tendem a apoiar o senador Flávio Bolsonaro (PL)”, afirmou Martins durante o Bastidores CNN desta sexta-feira (23).
Entre os que declararam apoio a Lula, destaca-se Pedro Sánchez, primeiro-ministro da Espanha. Políticos democratas dos Estados Unidos e representantes da esquerda europeia também manifestaram suporte à candidatura.
Já pelo lado de Flávio Bolsonaro, os apoios vieram de Benjamin Netanyahu, primeiro-ministro de Israel, e de Javier Milei, da Argentina.
Donald Trump, por sua vez, não chegou a declarar apoio formal a nenhum dos candidatos, mas comentou o desempenho de Flávio Bolsonaro no primeiro turno de forma positiva. O presidente norte-americano disse que o resultado no primeiro turno foi “uma vitória muito grande” para Flávio.
“A ênfase nas declarações de Donald Trump se dá por conta das relações conturbadas entre Brasil e Estados Unidos nos últimos anos”, afirmou Martins.
Política externa em jogo
O analista lembrou que as relações com os Estados Unidos devem ser um dos pontos centrais da política externa brasileira, dependendo do resultado das eleições.
Caso seja reeleito, Lula pretende manter uma política de autonomia em relação a Washington, inclusive reagindo contra a classificação de grupos criminosos brasileiros como entidades terroristas pelo governo americano. Lula também defende um equilíbrio nas relações com Estados Unidos, Europa e China.
Flávio Bolsonaro, por outro lado, defende um alinhamento mais estreito com os Estados Unidos e afirmou que adotaria a mesma medida em relação à classificação de organizações criminosas como grupos terroristas.
O candidato também sinalizou intenção de manter boas relações com a China, reconhecendo a importância do país nas relações comerciais e na economia brasileira.
Os textos gerados por inteligência artificial na CNN Brasil são feitos com base nos cortes de vídeos dos jornais de sua programação. Todas as informações são apuradas e checadas por jornalistas. O texto final também passa pela revisão da equipe de jornalismo da CNN. Clique aqui para saber mais.
The Superior Electoral Court enforces free public transport mandates and monitors vote access nationwide.
The Brazilian presidential campaign has entered its final stage ahead of the runoff vote scheduled for October 25, 2026. Incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faces Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, a candidate for the Liberal Party (PL), after a competitive first-round election on October 4, 2026.
The general election results established a narrow margin between the top two candidates. In the first round of voting, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro finished first, securing 47.03 percent of valid votes, or 56,103,033 ballots. Incumbent President Lula da Silva finished second, receiving 45.16 percent, or 53,870,724 ballots.
Turnout remained consistent with historical participation figures, reaching approximately 79 percent of registered voters. Lula maintained a structural lead throughout the Northeast region, winning majorities in key states such as Bahia, Pernambuco, and Ceará.
Economic indicators and social policy debates formed the primary foundation for candidate speeches throughout the first round. In campaign speeches, President Lula highlighted the accomplishments of his current administration, citing expanding employment rates, social assistance programs, and inflation control measures implemented since 2023.
Flávio Bolsonaro focused his campaign speeches on public security concerns, national debt levels, and economic challenges, presenting his platform as a continuation of conservative governance under his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who remains legally barred from holding office.
Street Mobilization and Electoral Propaganda Networks
Campaign operations shifted toward intensive physical rallies and structured broadcast messaging during the runoff period. The Workers’ Party (PT) and its broader political coalition centered their ground mobilization around major urban centers and traditional working-class strongholds.
Popular social movements, including the Landless Workers Movement (MST) and the Homeless Workers Movement (MTST), along with trade union confederations such as the Unified Workers’ Central (CUT), coordinated door-to-door canvassing operations and public rallies in major metropolitan areas including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador.
Flávio Bolsonaro’s ground strategy relied heavily on state-level executive endorsements and conservative municipal networks. Key allies, including re-elected conservative governors from São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro, organized regional logistics to boost conservative voter turnout.
Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign speeches during street rallies emphasized hardline public security measures, moral issues, and support for the agribusiness sector, utilizing alliances with conservative caucus members in Congress to secure local political support.
Broadcast media exposure operated under the free electoral advertising time framework regulated by the Superior Electoral Court. The regulations ensured equal daily broadcast time across television and radio networks for both finalists during the runoff window.
Parallel to traditional broadcast propaganda, digital media networks expanded rapidly. Both campaign organizations directed significant funding toward micro-targeted online advertising and social media distribution channels to capture voters outside traditional media formats.
Digital outreach strategies diverged between the two operational teams. Lula’s digital apparatus utilized organized volunteer networks, endorsements from cultural figures, and policy fact sheets distributed through verified messaging channels.
The Flávio Bolsonaro campaign relied on decentralized messaging channels, emphasizing direct-to-voter video distribution, security rhetoric, and critiques of government institutions.
WHO'S THE REAL THIEF? LULA CHALLENGES BOLSONARO TO SHOW RECORDS
Ahead of Brazil’s presidential election, Brazilian President Lula da Silva publicly challenged rival Flávio Bolsonaro to open his bank accounts, release his phone records, and let the Brazilian people decide who… pic.twitter.com/U6Ge0yOV6A
The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) established strict administrative parameters to govern political content across major social networks, focusing heavily on Meta’s platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Electoral judicial resolutions prohibited paid digital political advertising in the final 48 hours leading up to the October 25 vote, restricted automated messaging software, and required tech platforms to execute judicial content removal mandates within expedited timeframes.
Monitoring reports submitted to electoral authorities by digital rights watchdogs and research institutes identified recurring patterns in content dissemination across Meta’s channels.
Independent audits logged instances of dark ads, unverified allegations targeting electoral integrity, and micro-targeted digital campaigns deployed in private messaging groups.
Meta adjusted its content moderation operations in Brazil to comply with TSE directives, expanding its ad library transparency protocols and updating content review procedures.
The company reported the removal of non-compliant posts and the deactivation of unauthorized bulk-messaging networks. Despite these technical platform adjustments, electoral oversight bodies noted that closed messaging networks remained a primary vector for unverified political narratives due to end-to-end encryption limitations.
Broad Coalitions, Strategic Endorsements, and Voter Demographics
The transition from the October 4 first round to the October 25 runoff required both campaigns to expand beyond their primary ideological bases.
President Lula da Silva maintained a broad front coalition uniting left-wing parties with center-right political figures. Vice President Geraldo Alckmin returned as Lula’s running mate, reinforcing ties with business sectors and moderate electors, while key cabinet figures and allied governors led outreach campaign efforts aimed at consolidating anti-far-right voter segments.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro expanded his campaign footprint by consolidating conservative regional power structures and legislative blocks. Selecting PL lawmaker Alfredo Gaspar as his vice-presidential running mate, a former prosecutor and public security secretary from Alagoas, Flávio Bolsonaro sought to bolster his law-and-order platform while solidifying backing among conservative lawmakers in Congress.
Flávio’s runoff effort secured endorsement commitments from conservative state governors, agribusiness associations, and international right-wing figures, reinforcing his position across traditional conservative strongholds.
Incumbent President Lula retained consistent lead margins among female voters, lower-income households earning up to two minimum wages, residents in the Northeast region, and older age demographics.
Conversely, Flávio Bolsonaro maintained stronger support metrics among male voters, higher-income earners, Evangelical Christian voters, and electors situated in the agribusiness-heavy South, Southeast, and Center-West regions.
Both campaign organizations directed their final operational focus toward undecided voters and middle-income suburban districts in the key battleground states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.
Debate Performances, Fact-Checking, and Media Coverage
The televised presidential debates between incumbent President Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro emerged as decisive turning points during the three-week runoff window. Major media coalitions organized direct face-to-face encounters, allowing the candidates to present competing vision frameworks for Brazil’s governance.
During the live broadcast exchanges, President Lula focused his arguments on economic stability, job creation, and social progress achieved during his term, emphasizing the expansion of public investments, inflation control, and environmental protection initiatives.
Lula confronted Flávio Bolsonaro on fiscal proposals, judicial integrity, and the anti-democratic precedents associated with the far-right movement.
In response, Flávio Bolsonaro framed his candidacy around conservative public security policies, government austerity, and tax reforms. Flávio heavily criticized the economic administration’s public debt metrics and targeted the federal judiciary, presenting his campaign as a necessary alternative to political continuity.
Mainstream media coverage focused heavily on candidate posture, tone, and strategic attempts to appeal to the estimated 10 percent of undecided voters heading into the final days of the race.
Brazil’s top electoral court has said it will fine Meta $200,000 a day until it can prove that president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his far-right challenger Flávio Bolsonaro get equal treatment on its platforms.
Election Day Execution, Institutional Resilience, and Regional Impact
Supervised directly by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), voting logistics across all 26 states and the Federal District rely on fully digitized electronic voting machines (urnas eletrônicas) to ensure rapid processing and secure transmission of total ballots.
To facilitate maximum democratic access, federal judicial rulings mandated free public transportation (passe livre) across capital cities, while electoral inspectors monitored security forces to prevent voter transportation disruptions or targeted law enforcement checkpoints.
Following the October 4 first round, where Flávio Bolsonaro led with 47.03 percent (56,104,503 votes) against Lula’s 45.16 percent (53,879,538 votes), both organizations focused their final operational pushes on key battleground states like Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.
The outcome of the October 25 vote carries far-reaching geopolitical implications across Latin America and the broader global stage. A victory for President Lula would ensure the continuation of active multilateral diplomacy, regional integration through BRICS and CELAC, and strong federal commitments to Amazonian environmental conservation.
Conversely, a victory for Flávio Bolsonaro would mark a significant resurgence for the continental far-right, shifting Brazil’s diplomatic alignment toward conservative international blocs and introducing sweeping changes to domestic fiscal and environmental policy frameworks.
Sources: Brasil de Fato – Agência Brasil – Gov.br – O Globo – Folha de S.Paulo – O Estado de S.Paulo – El País – CNN Brasil – EFE – Instituto Tricontinental – La Base América Latina – Diario Re
Miguel Relvas, Adalberto Campos Fernandes e Rui Gomes da Silva analisam o duelo entre Lula e Flávio Bolsonaro, o peso da abstenção e o impacto das eleições na relação do Brasil com Portugal e a Europa
João Gabriel de Lima diz que Flávio Bolsonaro leva vantagem, mas sublinha que a esquerda tem vindo a recuperar terreno. O jornalista aborda a aposta nas redes sociais por parte dos dois candidatos.
Advierten sobre las amenazas que representa el proyecto de la extrema derecha y llamaron a la ciudadanía a acudir a las urnas el próximo 25 de octubre para votar en contra de su propuesta política.
Brazilian president mobilizes supporters online ahead of Sunday’s runoff, as a new poll shows the two candidates tied at 50%.
On Thursday, Brazilian President and reelection candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called on the country’s young and elderly people to “defeat” opposition Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro to build a society that “distributes books and culture, not weapons and hate.”
“Our army is much bigger, full of enthusiasm and heart, where nobody wants to kill anybody,” said the Workers’ Party (PT) candidate during his first digital event of this kind.
Lula spent an hour and a half participating in a livestream on social media alongside lawmaker Andre Janones, who created a public WhatsApp channel in support of the progressive leader called “Lula’s Army.” The channel has already attracted 8.5 million users ahead of Sunday’s presidential runoff.
Shortly before the digital event, polling firm Datafolha released a survey showing both candidates tied at 50% of the valid vote, three days before voters head to the polls.
🚨 PESSOAL, URGENTE!!!
Preparados pra ver a história acontecendo AO VIVO diante dos olhos?!
Vamos encerrar a campanha mais importante da história do Brasil!
Um ato que ficará para sempre marcado na memória das lutas do povo brasileiro! 🇧🇷
The text reads, “Folks, urgent!!! Are you ready to watch history unfold live before your very eyes?! We are bringing the most important campaign in the history of Brazil to a close! It will be an event that remains forever etched in the memory of the Brazilian people’s struggles! Join us this Saturday, the 24th, at 2:00 pm, on Avenida Paulista, in Sao Paulo!”
In the first round of the election, the eldest son of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro won 47% of the vote, two percentage points more than Lula, who appears to have drawn even in the final days of the campaign.
Part of the Brazilian president’s strategy has involved mobilizing his supporters in the streets and on social media, with an emphasis on young people and those over 70. The latter are exempt from voting in a country where voting is mandatory.
Introduced as “Marshal Lula,” the Workers’ Party leader acknowledged feeling “like a fish out of water” during his first livestream, where he listened to accounts from young and elderly people.
“I have to talk with my army; we have a great battle ahead of us,” Lula said, adding that his candidacy represents “democracy,” “the fight against femicide” and a “life focused on health, culture” and education.
Estas eleições serão um divisor de águas para o Brasil. É hora de transformar essa esperança e mobilização das ruas em mais participação e compromissos.
Seguiremos firmes na luta por um país mais justo, com oportunidades para todos e políticas voltadas às necessidades da… pic.twitter.com/TzOkr47RH8
Lula da SIlva’s text reads, “These elections will be a watershed moment for Brazil. It is time to transform this hope and the mobilization seen in the streets into greater participation and concrete commitments. We will remain steadfast in the fight for a fairer country—one with opportunities for all and policies geared toward the needs of the population. Our ‘army’ consists of more than just soldiers; it is driven by reason, motivation, and a cause. And our cause is the best in the world, because it is the Brazilian people. Let us work together to secure another victory!”
“Our army fights to build a harmonious, loving society that builds rather than destroys, that distributes books and culture, not weapons and hate,” said the Workers’ Party leader, who also referred to Sunday’s runoff election as a “war.”
“Brazil cannot fall into the hands of a militiaman,” Lula said, alluding to the Bolsonaro family’s ties to relatives of members of paramilitary groups in Rio de Janeiro.
Lula also recalled that Flavio Bolsonaro had served as the lawyer for a police officer accused of killing a 5-year-old girl during an operation against suspected drug traffickers.
The Workers’ Party also urged those who abstained from voting — who accounted for 21% of voters in the first round, or about 33.5 million Brazilians — to vote for Lula on Sunday.
“You who did not go to vote because you didn’t like the candidates or because you are over 70, that is your right; but not now. Now you have to think about Brazil, about your homeland,” he said.
Presidente brasileiro reforça que qualquer crime na internet deve ser tratado como "um crime na vida real", após polémica sobre Meta ter suspendido contas e publicações durante período eleitoral.
"Exército de Lula", um grupo no WhatsApp com mais de oito milhões de seguidores, que faz parte da estratégia digital da campanha de Lula, chegou a ser suspenso, após acusações de espalhar notícias falsas por Flávio Bolsonaro
Coordenação deu erros nas alianças, perdeu o Centrão e registou quebras no Nordeste. Ministro de Lula diz que a campanha "encontrou o rumo" para a segunda volta.
Flávio Bolsonaro conseguiu na primeira volta uma vantagem de dois pontos percentuais sobre Lula da Silva e perfila-se como favorito na reta final da campanha para as eleições de domingo.
Deep in cattle country, voter sentiments in an evangelical stronghold help explain why the country’s leftist president is the underdog in Sunday’s election.
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders and 12 Democratic members of Congress on Thursday asked Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to explain the alleged unequal treatment by his main platforms (Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp) of the campaigns of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and far-right Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who are facing off Sunday in the second round of Brazil’s presidential election. The final stretch of the campaign, tense amid polls predicting a technical tie, has been marked by alleged technical errors at Meta that have generally harmed the leftist leader.
They went into the first round of Brazil’s presidential election full of optimism. They were enormously confident that the veteran Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva would secure a first-round victory. In fact, even an outright win did not seem far-fetched to them. But election night on October 4 ended in colossal disappointment for 23-year-old Rhian Silva, for Julia de Oliveira Szöke, 25, both history students, and for the Brazilian left as a whole. Shocked, Silva allowed himself only a brief period of mourning before springing into action after Lula called for mass mobilization.
Governo do Brasil terá que garantir também facilitadores de comunicação e recursos alimentares aos povos indígenas nos locais de voto para as eleições presidenciais de domingo.
Alguns destes eleitores indígenas do norte do Brasil vivem até 895 quilómetros de distância dos locais de voto, o que exige viagens de barco que duram entre três a cinco dias
Expresso escreve que para ter mais casas são precisos mais terrenos, menos burocracia e menos impostos. No Brasil, a Folha de São Paulo destaca a nova sondagem que coloca Lula e Bolsonaro empatados.
Llegaron optimistas a la primera vuelta de las elecciones presidenciales en Brasil. Con enorme confianza en que el veterano Lula lograría la victoria parcial. Es más, el triunfo definitivo tampoco les sonaba descabellado. Pero la noche electoral del 4 de octubre acabó en disgusto colosal para Rhian Silva, de 23 años, para Julia de Oliveira Szöke, de 25, estudiantes de Historia, y para toda la izquierda brasileña. Conmocionada, hizo un luto breve y se puso en acción tras un llamamiento de Lula a la movilización general. “Lo primero que nosotros hicimos fue decirnos: ‘No podemos caer en el pánico o la desesperación. Quedan casi tres semanas. Vamos a por la remontada”, recordaba Silva el miércoles, en el campus de la Universidad de São Paulo (USP), pública, una de las mejores de América Latina.
Our Latin America correspondent, Tom Phillips, heads to Roraima to hear what’s at stake for the rainforest and the communities that live there in the Brazilian presidential runoff on Sunday. Send your comments and questions to tif.questions@theguardian.com
For the Amazon and the communities who live there, the stakes in Sunday’s Brazilian presidential election runoff could scarcely be higher.
Our Latin America correspondent, Tom Phillips heads to Roraima, the country’s most northern state, to hear from voters, preachers and politicians in a region that heavily backed Flávio Bolsonaro in the first round.
En la víspera del último debate televisado (este viernes) y a menos de tres días del balotaje en Brasil, el sondeo de Datafolha refleja un ascenso de Lula respecto a anteriores encuestas.
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