The political landscape in Brazil remains deeply polarized as right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro reportedly maintains a slight edge over President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead of a tense October 25 run-off vote. A Quaest poll released on Thursday indicates that Bolsonaro, the son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, is drawing 46 percent support compared to Lula’s 44 percent, leaving the race within the margin of error.

Bolsonaro allegedly outperformed expectations during the first round of voting on October 4, bypassing Lula by a narrow margin despite widespread projections suggesting the incumbent leftist leader would secure a first-round victory. With neither candidate achieving a definitive majority, the contest moved toward the upcoming run-off. In response to the initial setback, Lula has reportedly sought to mobilize his base through massive street rallies.

Political analysts have pointed out that Bolsonaro has allegedly failed to fully capitalize on the consolidation of conservative voters whose preferred candidates were previously eliminated. Nevertheless, he has continued efforts to secure endorsements from right and center-right factions in an attempt to build a business-friendly coalition favoured by economic investors.

Meanwhile, the ruling authorities have pushed through populist measures to address widespread public anxiety over cost-of-living pressures. The Brazilian Senate recently approved a constitutional amendment cutting the maximum workweek from 44 to 40 hours without lowering wages, touted as a historic achievement for labor groups. Additionally, the administration has banned sports betting, which was claimed to have fueled a surge in household debt and gambling addiction nationwide.

Source: www.aljazeera.com