SÃO PAULO — President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led Senator Flávio Bolsonaro 42% to 37% in a BTG/Nexus poll released Monday, one week before Brazil’s Oct. 4 first-round presidential election, with a simulated runoff still a technical tie, Folha de S.Paulo reported.
The Nexus survey of 2,000 voters ages 16 and older, conducted Sept. 25–27 with a two-point margin of error, showed Lula up slightly from 40% a week earlier while Bolsonaro held at 37%. In a second-round matchup Lula had 46% to Bolsonaro’s 44%. Minor candidates trailed in single digits. Reuters separately reported the race remains neck-and-neck as Flávio Bolsonaro seeks to inherit his imprisoned father’s far-right base after Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction over a failed coup plot.
Campaigning intensified over Lula’s online-betting ban and allegations tying Flávio to movie funding from disgraced banker Daniel Vorcaro. A runoff, if needed, is set for Oct. 25. Rival street rallies filled Brazilian cities Sunday with seven days left in the first-round sprint.
Sources: Folha de S.Paulo (BTG/Nexus), Reuters
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