Voters were seen arriving at the embassy, undergoing registration checks and casting their ballots electronically, while others gathered outside after voting.

Erasto Santos Cruz, who has lived in China for nine years, expressed concern that a Bolsonaro victory could weaken relations between Beijing and Brasília. “If Lula wins, it's a guarantee that China's relationship with Brazil will keep getting better and better, because Lula is an old friend of China,” he told Viory.

Hernandes Miguel, who travelled from Wuhan to vote, warned that a change in leadership could threaten progress in public education and social programmes introduced under previous administrations.

Another voter, Wagner Lacerda Dantas, described the election as crucial for Brazil's environmental policies , particularly the protection of the Amazon rainforest, and its international partnerships.

Meanwhile, Lara Vidal said she believed Lula's re-election would help Brazil resist political pressure from Washington and strengthen Latin America's independence.

The run-off follows a narrow first-round vote on October 4, when Bolsonaro secured approximately 47% against Lula's 45%.

Thousands of supporters joined the march, calling for continued mobilisation in the final days of the campaign.

Journalist Merrina Delgado expressed concern about Brazil's political future, accusing the Bolsonaro camp of threatening democratic progress. “We still have a few days to win votes,” Delgado said, urging Lula's supporters to remain active until polling day.

Influencer Fernando Saldanha also expressed confidence that Lula could reverse the first-round result in the state, describing the election as a broader struggle against what he called fascism.

Lawyer Laura Xavier said she joined the demonstration over concerns about foreign economic influence, particularly from the United States , and the future of Brazil's political left.

The rally formed part of Lula's final campaign push in Minas Gerais, where both candidates are seeking to secure crucial votes ahead of Sunday's election.

“Do we want a Brazil that kisses the Brazilian flag, or do we want a Brazil that goes on all fours before the American flag?” Lula asked.

The president has made national sovereignty a central theme of his re-election campaign, repeatedly questioning the Bolsonaro camp's ties with Washington.

Lula also urged supporters to intensify their campaign efforts both on the streets and online, describing the final days before the election as a decisive political battle.

“Lula's army cannot leave the streets, cannot leave the digital networks,” he declared, describing his supporters as an “army of dignity” and democracy .

The president also challenged Bolsonaro to disclose his financial and telephone records before agreeing to another televised debate, following a heated exchange over corruption allegations during their first debate on Sunday.

The candidates also discussed public healthcare and the COVID-19 pandemic under the presidency of Flávio Bolsonaro’s father, Jair Bolsonaro. Flávio acknowledged shortcomings in his father’s handling of the crisis, saying: “I’ll offer a mea culpa here.”

The debate took place as both candidates sought to attract undecided voters ahead of the second round. Bolsonaro received 47% of the vote in the first round on 4 October, compared with Lula’s 45%.

A second televised debate is scheduled for 23 October, two days before Brazilians go to the polls .

Luka Franca, an electoral lawyer and co-director of the Feminist Institute Kuira, said women’s demands must be part of the presidential debate, noting that women represent more than half the electorate. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro are competing in the run-off, in which women’s votes could play a significant role.

During the event, Lula celebrated a constitutional reform ending Brazil's six-day working week with one day off, known as the 6x1 system.

Under the reform, maximum weekly working hours will gradually fall to 42 in December 2026 and 40 in December 2027, without salary reductions.

Lula described the changes as a victory for workers, particularly women who balance paid employment with family responsibilities.

Supporters welcomed the reform and expressed confidence in his re-election campaign. “I am very happy and I have faith that we are going to achieve this victory,” said supporter Ana Luiza Santana.

The president also urged older voters and those who abstained in the first round to participate in the October 25 vote. Lula warned against a return of Bolsonarismo, arguing that the election would determine the future of labour rights and social policies in Brazil.

Lula has presented the proposal as a victory for workers, arguing that two days off would allow people to spend more time with their families and care for their children . At the rally, supporters urged voters to back his re-election, while Janja said ending the 6x1 rota would be a major achievement, particularly for women.

Protesters voiced concerns over workers' rights, women's rights and Brazil's sovereignty, warning against what they described as the growing influence of the far right.

Camila Lisboa, a member of the Socialism and Freedom Party's feminist caucus, criticised Bolsonaro's candidacy, accusing him of being disconnected from the realities of working-class Brazilians.

Another demonstrator, Taisa, expressed frustration over labour conditions and warned against potential threats to women's rights and what she viewed as growing US influence.

Other participants called for stronger political mobilisation among workers and young people ahead of the vote. “We want to defeat the far right that is coming on strong and does not represent the rights of workers, students and the Brazilian people,” demonstrator Julia said.

The rally followed Brazil's October 4 first-round election , in which Bolsonaro secured 47.03 per cent of the vote against Lula's 45.16 per cent. The two candidates will face each other in the October 25 run-off.

The results will determine both who leads the country and how much support the next government has to address household finances, public security and pressure on public services.

Lula faces Bolsonaro’s son

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of the Workers’ Party, is seeking a fourth presidential term overall and a second consecutive term since returning to office in 2023. Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin is again his running mate.

His main challenger, Flávio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party, is a senator representing Rio de Janeiro and the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. He is running alongside congressman Alfredo Gaspar and seeking to return his father’s conservative movement to the presidency.

Twelve presidential candidates remain following Leonardo Avalanche’s withdrawal on September 30. Other contenders include Ronaldo Caiado, Romeu Zema, Renan Santos and Augusto Cury.

A Datafolha poll released on October 1 showed Lula with 42% of total voting intentions and Bolsonaro with 38%. Among valid voting intentions, Lula had 45% and Bolsonaro 40%. In a simulated run-off, Lula’s 48% against Bolsonaro’s 45% represented a statistical tie within the poll’s margin of error.

The survey interviewed 2,506 electors between September 29 and October 1, with a national margin of error of two percentage points. The figures leave the outcome uncertain and suggest the contest could continue to a second round.

Household finances and public spending

The candidates offer different approaches to managing the economy and financing government programmes.

Lula proposes maintaining his administration’s fiscal framework while protecting social spending and public investment. He also supports consolidating the consumption-tax reform approved during his current term.

Bolsonaro proposes cutting at least 10 ministries, reducing appointed positions and changing fiscal rules to lower public debt relative to the economy. He wants to review the tax reform to reduce the burden on production and consumption.

These proposals will influence how Brazil balances demands for jobs and better services with pressure to control spending and borrowing costs. Major changes would require support from Congress.

Security and violence against women

Public safety has been a major campaign concern, with violence against women receiving particular attention. Women account for 53% of the electorate, making their support crucial to both leading candidates.

Bolsonaro has proposed chemical castration for sex offenders and expanded assistance for victims. Lula has pledged to strengthen existing protections, including real-time monitoring of offenders wearing electronic ankle bracelets. Both support tougher penalties, which would require parliamentary approval.

The Amazon and Indigenous land rights

Brazil contains about 60% of the Amazon rainforest, giving its environmental decisions consequences beyond its borders.

Lula’s programme targets zero net deforestation by 2030. Bolsonaro promises to end illegal deforestation by 2029, while easing environmental licensing and allowing Indigenous communities greater discretion over economic activities on their land.

The distinction between the targets matters: ending illegal clearing still permits authorised forest loss. Environmental specialists warn that weaker protections could reverse recent progress against deforestation. Despite these stakes, Amazon conservation has received relatively little attention during the campaign.

Congress, the courts and accountability

The congressional elections will shape the next president’s ability to pass legislation, approve budgets and carry out campaign promises. Senators also approve senior appointments and conduct presidential impeachment trials. Those elected this year will serve eight-year terms.

Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction for attempting to overturn his 2022 election defeat remains part of the political backdrop. Flávio Bolsonaro has advocated an amnesty, with a presidential pardon as a possible alternative. Either proposal would face legal questions; a victory would not automatically secure his father’s release.

The Banco Master controversy has also kept judicial accountability in the campaign debate. On October 1, Lula defended Justice Flávio Dino’s decision to pause proceedings concerning allegations involving Justice Alexandre de Moraes and banker Daniel Vorcaro. The allegations remain distinct from established findings of wrongdoing.

How the electoral process works

Voting across Brazil will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Brasília time , with corresponding local hours in other time zones. People already queuing when polling stations close may still vote.

Voting is compulsory for literate citizens aged 18 to 70. It is optional for 16- and 17-year-olds, people over 70 and people who cannot read or write. Voters must present an accepted photo ID.

Most voters casting ballots in Brazil will make six choices on an electronic voting machine, in this order: federal deputy, state or Federal District deputy, two different senators, governor and president.

Votes for president and governor automatically include their running mates. Repeating the same Senate candidate invalidates the second Senate vote. Electors registered abroad vote only for president and vice-president.

To win the presidency or a governorship in the first round, a candidate must receive more than half of valid votes. Blank and invalid ballots do not count towards that threshold. If nobody achieves it, the two leading candidates contest a run-off on 25 October.

Senators are elected in a single round, with the two highest-polling candidates in each state and the Federal District winning. Deputies are elected through proportional representation, meaning party and federation vote totals help determine how seats are allocated.

Official results will begin appearing from 5 p.m ., Brasília time, according to the TSE. Even if the presidential race continues to a run-off, Sunday’s congressional results will already have shaped the next government’s ability to act.

Music producer Daniel Roitman also supported Lula, pointing to the cultural sector and his assessment of former president Jair Bolsonaro's government. Administrator Flavia Zambom, meanwhile, backed Flavio Bolsonaro, highlighting proposals including lowering the age of criminal responsibility.

In Recife, Lula retains support among some voters who credit his governments with giving greater attention to Brazil's Northeast. Helena de Andrade Bezerra said the region's political trend remained more favourable to Lula, while Sergio Ferreira said he would vote for Bolsonaro because he believed the senator could “move Brazil forward”.

Professor Fernando Brancoli of the Federal University of Rio said Brazil's regional voting patterns reflect broader economic, social and political differences, warning that the country's electoral divide cannot be explained solely along North-South lines.

Lula extended his sovereignty message to Brazil's natural resources, saying foreign powers should not dictate how the country's wealth is used. He pledged to have critical minerals processed domestically to produce batteries, mobile phones and chips.

The president also criticised his political opponents and defended his government's decision to ban online betting platforms, arguing that they had contributed to debt among lower-income Brazilians.

The rally came just over a week before the first round of voting on October 4. Lula is seeking a fourth term as president, with Liberal Party candidate Flavio Bolsonaro among his rivals.

“When Trump speaks of terrorism, he speaks of state terrorism,” Lula said. “Who did that? It was Bolsonaro, when he tried to stage the coup of 8 January. That is terrorism.”

Lula also referred to the “Green and Yellow Dagger” plan drafted by retired general Mario Fernandes, a former official in Bolsonaro's government. According to investigators, the document envisaged killing then president-elect Lula, vice-president-elect Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

Despite questioning the US designation, Lula compared the impact of criminal groups on communities to terrorism, citing extortion and restrictions imposed on residents.

“Those criminals are terrorists for the families who live in the neighbourhood,” he said.

Lula said organised crime had expanded its presence across Brazil's major cities and that authorities would focus first on disrupting criminal groups' logistics and movement before seeking to regain control of affected territories.

Public security has become a major issue ahead of Brazil's October 4 presidential election. Lula is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, with Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro's son, among his main opponents. An AtlasIntel/Bloomberg poll published on September 17 put Lula at 44.1% and Flavio Bolsonaro at 41.7% in a first-round scenario; the survey had a one-percentage-point margin of error.

"There is an official over there who does not like Brazil or Latin America and who is a Bolsonarist: the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. He does not like us," Lula said.

Lula also referred to Rubio's Cuban heritage, describing him as "perhaps a frustrated Latin American because his family left Cuba" and claiming the US secretary of state "hates Cuba, hates Colombia and hates Brazil."

The remarks come after Washington imposed a 25 per cent tariff on many Brazilian goods in July, followed by an additional 12.5 per cent levy linked to US measures against countries it says do not adequately restrict imports made with forced labour. Some products are exempt.

Lula said he learned of the latest tariff increase through the media and claimed it would leave Brazil with a $7.4 billion shortfall.

"Tell him how a president of a country that is not as rich as the United States can guarantee every Brazilian citizen the same health treatment that the president of the Republic will receive," Lula said.

The United States formally left the WHO on 22nd January 2026, a year after Trump ordered the withdrawal on his first day back in office. The WHO said Washington halted its funding and left about $260 million in unpaid contributions, warning the move leaves "both the United States and the rest of the world in a less safe situation."

Lula also highlighted his government's healthcare policies and the expansion of public health services in Rio de Janeiro during the hospital visit.

“We do not believe that this is going to have an impact on the diplomatic side of the two countries,” Ravier told reporters at the Casa Rosada.

He added that Argentina had no intention of allowing the dispute to affect trade between the two “brotherly peoples”, noting that both countries are major trading partners and members of Mercosur.

“It is part of the game,” Ravier said, adding that insults had come from both sides in the past but had not been taken to the diplomatic level by Argentina.

Milei called Lula a “thief” and a “criminal” during a Liberal Party event in Sao Paulo on Saturday, where he backed Flavio Bolsonaro’s presidential candidacy.

Lula later responded that Brazil would not accept anyone “sticking their nose where it does not belong”.

Brazil subsequently recalled its ambassador to Argentina, Julio Bitelli, for consultations.

"This is a simulation of my image and my voice made with artificial intelligence. I am imprisoned and silenced by an unjust and arbitrary decision, based on something I never did. But I guarantee you one thing: no prison will silence the feeling of hope that we awakened," the AI-generated message said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also appeared in a recorded video congratulating Flavio Bolsonaro on his nomination.

"You are a great defender of Brazil . You are a great defender of the friendship between our peoples. And I know that you will lead Brazil to achieve ever greater accomplishments. Congratulations," Netanyahu said.

In his speech, Flavio Bolsonaro described the 2018 stabbing of his father, his imprisonment and the restrictions placed on him as three attempts to remove Jair Bolsonaro from political life. He accused opponents of "silencing the greatest leader of the right that this country has had" and pledged to "free Brazil" from what he called "the dirty hands of Lula and the Workers' Party."

He also said he leaves home each day wearing a bulletproof vest and accompanied by security , but that it would not stop him from running.

"With that purpose, today I assume, before God and before all of you, my Brazilian nation, the mission of being a candidate for the presidency of the Republic of Brazil of the future," he said.

Flavio Bolsonaro also called for constitutional changes, lower taxes and tougher criminal laws, including treating 14-year-olds convicted of rape as adults, longer prison terms for assaults on women and chemical castration for people convicted of raping children .

At a separate Workers' Party convention, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said "this 80-year-old young man will win the elections again", signalling his intention to seek a fourth presidential term overall. Lula is currently serving his third, non-consecutive term.