Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva mobilized thousands of supporters this Saturday in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, before testing their strength on Sunday in the electrifying first round of the presidential elections.
Lula, 76 years old and the favorite in the polls, led the “victory march” while riding in a truck, which walked along an artery near the emblematic Paulista Avenue, the scene of the large demonstrations in the megalopolis.
The former president was accompanied by thousands of people who waved flags of union centrals, LGBTI groups, black groups and feminists, and their Workers Party.
About five kilometers from Paulista Avenue, Bolsonaro, from 67 years, led a motorcycle caravan to Ibirapuera Park, the green lung of São Paulo, where they awaited thousands of supporters. Along the road, they wore yellow and green t-shirts and waved Brazilian flags, applauding, whistling and asking for selfies with the president.
“Lula thief, your place is prison!”, shouted the Bolsonaristas as the president carried a bag with a photo of his leftist rival behind bars.
None of the candidates made speeches. Brazil’s electoral law does not allow candidates to ask for votes a day before the elections. Radio and television announcements are prohibited from Thursday, but in-person events and the distribution of election material are allowed until Saturday night.
The 156 million Brazilian voters will also elect on Sunday the members of the Lower House of Congress, a third of the Senate and the governors and legislatures of the 27 states.
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