Brazil’s political left is intensifying its campaign efforts ahead of the presidential runoff scheduled for October 25, seeking to reverse an initial setback in the first round held on October 4. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80, finished narrowly behind right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, receiving 45% of the vote to Bolsonaro’s 47%. However, recent polling indicates a tightening race with Bolsonaro’s lead shrinking to within the margin of error.
A Datafolha survey published Thursday put Bolsonaro at 51% and Lula at 49% among valid votes, suggesting the contest remains too close to call. Lula’s campaign is focusing on mobilizing the roughly 33.4 million voters who abstained from the first round, representing more than one in five eligible voters.
In a strategic legislative win, Brazil’s Congress approved a constitutional amendment on Wednesday that ends the traditional six-day workweek, a key component of Lula’s platform. The change will introduce a five-day workweek with two paid days off, gradually reducing maximum weekly working hours from 44 to 40 without reducing salaries. The reform enjoyed broad bipartisan support, including from Bolsonaro, who reversed his earlier opposition to the measure.
Lula hailed the reform as a victory driven by societal pressure and street demonstrations demanding change. Beyond labor reform, his administration has rolled out a series of economic initiatives aimed at the working class and small business owners, including debt relief for small enterprises, expanded university grants, and proposals for free weekend public transportation. The government also increased benefits under Bolsa Familia, the country’s principal social welfare program, prior to the first vote.
Despite these measures, concerns are mounting among economists about fiscal sustainability, as Brazil’s public debt exceeds 80% of gross domestic product. Critics warn that the surge in social spending may reflect opportunistic vote-buying ahead of the runoff. Economist Marcos Mendes of the Insper research institute characterized the government’s approach as lacking fiscal discipline.
On the digital front, Lula’s campaign has sought to regain ground after a lackluster initial social media effort. The president has enlisted young politicians with substantial online followings, such as 21-year-old lawmaker Ana Elisa from Minas Gerais, to invigorate outreach. Lula himself has adopted a more informal social media presence, dubbing himself the “selfie king” and engaging directly with supporters through video messages. He has committed to purchasing a mobile phone if a pro-Lula WhatsApp channel attains five million followers; the group currently counts approximately 4.6 million participants.
Street demonstrations have also surged, with large-scale protests organized by students and social movements loyal to Lula’s Workers’ Party. Participants, wearing the party’s signature red and carrying banners reading “Bolsonaro never again” and “For democracy,” have mobilized in numbers unprecedented in recent years. Observers point to these protests as a significant factor in energizing the left’s voter base.
The opposition to a potential Bolsonaro presidency stems largely from concerns about a return to policies associated with former President Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio Bolsonaro’s father, whose administration faced widespread criticism for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, attacks on democratic institutions, and policies affecting minority rights.
Political scientist Eduardo Grin from the Getulio Vargas Foundation noted the importance of street activism in the current campaign climate. “This rapid, mass mobilisation in the streets has a multiplier effect and can undoubtedly bring out voters,” he said, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the race as Brazil prepares for a decisive runoff.