Brazil’s presidential candidates officially launched their campaigns on Sunday, holding rallies in key political strongholds ahead of what is anticipated to be a highly competitive election in October. The day marked the first official campaign period for the 13 candidates currently in the running, though voter engagement is expected to intensify once television and radio campaign advertisements begin airing later this month.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed a crowd of more than 10,000 supporters at the Vila Euclides Stadium in Sao Bernardo do Campo, located outside Sao Paulo. The 80-year-old candidate, who rose to political prominence 47 years ago as a metalworkers union leader during the country’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship, spoke with nostalgia about his roots.
Wearing a hat following a skin cancer diagnosis, Lula asserted that Brazil requires a continuation of his existing policies.
He also addressed the issue of foreign involvement in domestic politics, denouncing outside interference and specifically mentioning Brazil’s vast rare mineral reserves. “No one (abroad) will tap our minerals. We are going to tap them for the benefit of the Brazilian people,” he stated.
The event was attended by Argentina’s President Javier Milei, and Lula noted that he has received support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and various members of the Trump administration. Lula, who is pursuing a fourth nonconsecutive term, emphasized his commitment to women’s rights, noting that women constitute nearly 53% of Brazil’s 158 million eligible voters.
Accompanied by first lady Rosângela da Silva, who served as a primary speaker, Lula stated, “Men need to learn from childhood that they are no better than women.
We need to be equal.” He promised to release a platform within 10 days detailing initiatives for education and the prevention of violence against women. One supporter, 68-year-old Flávio Alves, noted that while the start feels slow, the expectation remains for a narrow election.
Simultaneously, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, representing the Liberal Party, gathered with thousands of supporters on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, did not attend the rally as he remains under house arrest following his conviction for an attempted coup.
During his appearance, the 45-year-old lawmaker, who wore a bulletproof vest, claimed he had received 1,800 death threats, though he provided no evidence for the assertion.
Addressing his platform, the younger Bolsonaro vowed to combat crime and to remove what he described as left-wing “ideology” from Brazilian schools. He suggested that every student “has the right to dream of being Elon Musk someday.”
While acknowledging his physical resemblance to his father, the senator sought to establish his own identity, remarking, “I know I look like him. But it is hard to compare Pelé’s son with Pelé.” His campaign has faced challenges, including a public rift with his stepmother, difficulties in securing a running mate, and distance from moderate political parties.
Other candidates were also active on Sunday; former state governor and agribusiness leader Ronaldo Caiado toured the area around Brasilia to reinforce his anti-Lula credentials, while Romeu Zema, the former governor of Minas Gerais, met with voters during a Catholic ceremony in the state, which is often viewed as a bellwether for national results.
Lula’s allies have previously accused the U.S. government of attempting to boost Flávio Bolsonaro’s bid through measures such as raising tariffs on Brazilian exports and revoking the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington. Meanwhile, the younger Bolsonaro, appearing with his mother and wife, pledged to fight violence against women, mirroring the focus on the female electorate that both major campaigns are currently prioritizing.
His father was attacked by a man with a knife as he campaigned for the presidency in 2018, suffering internal bleeding and intestinal injuries.
“I know I look like him. But it is hard to compare Pelé’s son with Pelé,” he said, referring to the three-time World Cup-winning soccer player who died in 2022.
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