Brazilian President Lula da Silva called on his supporters to mobilize voters ahead of the second round of the presidential election on October 25.
Thousands of people attended the rally, called the “March for Democracy,” in São Paulo, the country’s largest city. Lula da Silva addressed his supporters at the event on Avenida Paulista, which was decorated in the red colors associated with the Workers’ Party.
Lula da Silva urged more than 30 million voters who did not cast ballots in the first round, particularly older citizens, to go to the polls. He said the election carried a major historical responsibility for the country’s future and argued that Brazil must not again be governed by thieves.
Calling on older voters to cast their ballots for their children, grandchildren, country and future, Lula da Silva argued that the election was not merely a choice between him and his rival, but a decision between democracy and authoritarianism. He said the people deserved a future based on justice and equality rather than a return to the past.
Two sisters, both around 60, who attended the rally said they did not receive government assistance but were fighting for the rights of citizens in need of support. Participants also chanted anti-American slogans and expressed the view that Brazil belonged to them.
Bolsonaro leads in first round
Right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro met with mayors from his party in São Paulo ahead of the runoff. The son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, Flávio Bolsonaro finished ahead in the first round held on October 4.
According to the first-round results, with 99.8 percent of the votes counted, Flávio Bolsonaro received 47 percent of the vote, while Lula da Silva received 45.1 percent. In the election, which had approximately 159 million registered voters, Bolsonaro received 56.1 million votes and Lula da Silva received 53.8 million.
