Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro Launch Campaigns, Vow to Fight Organized Crime

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and opposition senator Flávio Bolsonaro officially launched their presidential campaigns, both prioritizing the fight against organized crime. The election is widely expected to be a close contest between the two frontrunners.

Lula, seeking an unprecedented fourth term at 80 years old, kicked off his campaign in São Bernardo do Campo, a city significant to his past as a union leader. His rally, attended by thousands of supporters clad in red, highlighted his history of labor activism and the social programs enacted during his previous presidencies. He vowed to continue his fight, stating, "As long as I am alive, I will not allow the right" to govern again.

Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, chose Rio de Janeiro as the backdrop for his campaign launch. Addressing a few hundred supporters on Copacabana beach, he appeared with Brazilian and U.S. flags, wearing a yellow t-shirt that read, "My party is Brazil," under a bulletproof vest. Polls indicate a tight race, with recent surveys showing a technical tie in a potential second-round runoff.

Both candidates selected symbolically charged locations for their campaign kick-offs, aiming to energize their bases. Lula's campaign sought to project strength with organized caravans from across the country filling a stadium, while Bolsonaro's event emphasized nationalistic symbols. The other dozen candidates registered with electoral authorities are polling below 5% of voter intention.

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Mientras esté vivo, no me permitiré dejar de luchar y permitir que la derecha" vuelva a gobernar.