‘It is Bolsonaro!’ - Supporters rally against Lula ahead of Brazil runoff
Key Takeaways
- Demonstrators gather in Rio de Janeiro's Campo Grande neighbourhood ahead of the presidential runoff.
- Supporters criticise the political left as Meta denies allegations of electoral bias.
- Bolsonaro secured 47.03% of first-round votes against Lula's 45.16%, setting up the October 25 runoff.
Flavio Bolsonaro's supporters take to the streets of Rio de Janeiro as tensions over social media influence and alleged election interference grow ahead of the October 25 vote.
Supporters of Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro have rallied in Rio de Janeiro, accusing the political left of spreading misinformation and warning against interference in the October 25 presidential runoff.
The demonstration took place on Tuesday in Campo Grande, in Rio's west zone, as the Liberal Party (PL) senator prepared to face incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the second round.
Participants marched through the streets carrying placards, including signs reading "Fuera Lula", as they expressed support for Bolsonaro's candidacy.
The mobilisation comes amid a dispute over the treatment of political content on Meta's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
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Meta has acknowledged technical problems affecting Lula's campaign but denied favouring either presidential candidate.
Carlos Enrique, one of the Bolsonaro supporters attending the demonstration, argued that right-wing political groups have a stronger presence on social media.
He also accused the political left of spreading false information online.
"In reality, they do not dominate social media. Social media is more on the right. The left only knows how to use it to spread fake news. They have no reach; they get no views on social media. It is really the right that dominates social media," he said.
Another demonstrator, identified as Flavio, criticised what he described as attempts to interfere with Bolsonaro's campaign.
He called on Lula to respect the democratic process and accept the election results.
"I think he should not interfere with democracy, since he talks so much about democracy. Why does he have to be getting in the way, right? He has to let things take their course and respect his defeat. This Sunday it is 22 [Liberal Party electoral number] and that will not face any interference. It is no use, he will try to stop it and he will not manage... It is Bolsonaro!" he said.
The comments reflect the political divisions surrounding the final days of the presidential campaign, with supporters of both candidates debating the role of digital platforms in shaping voter opinion.
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Bolsonaro entered the runoff after securing 47.03 per cent of valid votes in the October 4 first round, according to Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE).
Lula finished with 45.16 per cent.
Neither candidate secured the majority required for an outright victory, setting up a second-round contest on October 25.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
