President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), candidate for reelection, and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro (PL), candidate for president from Rio de Janeiro, intensified their exchanges of criticism less than a month before the first round of the presidential elections, scheduled for October 4. The two main candidates used speeches at public events, television and radio advertising, and social media as stages for their mutual attacks.
According to Quaest research, the scenario remains open: in a potential runoff, both candidates appear with 41% of voting intentions. At the Independence Day event on September 7, Lula brought campaign themes to the national date and reinforced his connection with Congressional leadership by meeting with leaders Alcolumbre and Motta.
Flavio Bolsonaro has been politically using the crisis in the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to draw parallels between Minister Alexandre de Moraes and Lula, reinforcing what he calls the Lulinha case. Meanwhile, the president has accused his opponents of serving the interests of the United States and recalled the Bolsonaro family's role in the so-called "tariff hike."
At another event held at Ibirapuera, politician Renan Santos attacked opponents, called for the imprisonment of STF ministers, and launched a manifesto during the event. The exchanges of accusations are occurring at a time of high tension in the electoral dispute, with both sides seeking to mobilize their bases and weaken their opponent in the period leading up to the vote.
