Brazil election: Poll sees Linken Luna as the winner – Bolsonaro strikes unusual tones

The presidential election is polarizing Brazilians.

A recent poll now predicts a runoff election with incumbent Bolsonaro.

Brasilia - Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is heading for another term in Latin America's largest country, according to a new poll.

According to the current status, Lula can hope for around 45 percent of the votes in the first round of voting on October 2nd, according to the opinion research institute Datafolha on September 15th in its latest survey.

Incumbent Jair Bolsonaro would receive around 33 percent of the vote.

The social democratic politician Ciro Gomes followed in third place with 8 percent of the vote.

Brazil election: runoff between Lula and Bolsonaro?

Everything points to a runoff between the left-wing icon Lula and the no less controversial right-wing populist agitator Bolsonaro.

According to the Datafolha poll, Lula would currently get around 54 percent of the votes in the second round and thus win the election.

Bolsonaro would therefore get 38 percent in the second ballot.

Who is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva?

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ruled Brazil from 2003 to 2010. He lifted millions of people out of abject poverty with social programs.

Brazil also boomed economically during his tenure.

However, corruption also flourished in the region's largest economy during his presidency.

In 2018, Lula was sentenced to a long prison term for corruption and money laundering.

In 2021, a Supreme Court judge reversed the verdict - and Lula regained his political rights.

Bolsonaro before election: "At my age, nothing left to do on earth"

Bolsonaro announced last week that he would withdraw from politics in the event of a defeat.

“God willing, I will continue as President.

If not, I will pass the sash and retire," Bolsonaro said on a podcast for young evangelical Christians.

The 67-year-old had previously sowed doubts about the legality of Brazil's elections and said, among other things, that he would either win, die or end up in prison.

Most recently, however, Bolsonaro had been more forgiving.

In an interview with the podcast, he also said that at his age he had "nothing left to do on earth" when his path in politics was over at the end of the year.

The regular term of office of the Brazilian President ends on December 31st.

The presidential election in Brazil will take place on October 2nd.