Lula mobilises thousands for Brazil’s run-off
The Brazilian president used a large gathering in São Paulo to reach young people and those staying at home.
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Thousands of supporters of Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva gathered on Sunday on Avenida Paulista in São Paulo. The rally is part of his campaign for the second round of the presidential election on 25 October.
The gathering drew thousands of people, according to Brazilian media, but no independent official count of the crowd was found in the reporting consulted. Supporters in red clothing gathered on the famous boulevard and expressed their support for Lula and his Workers’ Party, PT.
Lula spoke about democracy and political participation during the event. According to Band, he also addressed young voters and said they should have more influence over government decisions. The campaign thus presented the gathering not only as an expression of support, but also as an attempt to mobilise a younger electorate.
The stakes are high. According to the official result from Brazil’s electoral court, Flávio Bolsonaro received 47.03 per cent of the valid votes in the first round, compared with 45.16 per cent for Lula. The two candidates therefore proceed to the second round, which is scheduled for 25 October according to the election calendar.
The rally is primarily intended to raise the profile of Lula’s campaign after his second-place finish in the first round. Terra reported that several prominent allies and public figures were also present. The presence of prominent figures does not, however, indicate how many voters actually intend to vote differently.
For Lula, mobilising those staying at home is important. A large gathering can energise volunteers and party organisations, but it is not a reliable predictor of the result. Nor does the size of a crowd say much about the distribution of votes in a country with major regional, social and political differences.
The election is relevant to Dutch readers because Brazil is a large democracy, a major economy and a major agricultural producer. The second round is not only about two candidates, but also about the direction of government, relations with institutions and the question of how deeply political polarisation will continue to shape the country after the result.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Lula held a campaign rally in São Paulo.
- The first round ended with Flávio Bolsonaro ahead of Lula.
- The second round is scheduled for 25 October.
Left
Arguments The rally shows that Lula is trying to mobilise a broad democratic and social movement against a return of Bolsonarismo.
Values Social protection, democratic institutions and inclusive politics.
Consequences A Lula victory would, according to this perspective, provide continuity for social programmes and institutional stability.
Centre
Arguments The gathering is a normal part of a competitive second round. More important than the imagery is whether parties convince voters on substance and respect the electoral rules.
Values Institutional continuity, the rule of law and democratic freedom of choice.
Consequences A peaceful campaign and acceptance of the result matter more for stability than the size of individual rallies.
Right
Arguments The gathering mainly demonstrates the strength of the organised PT support base and does not show that Lula has also convinced a majority of independent voters.
Values Political change, limited concentration of power, and an emphasis on security and economic responsibility.
Consequences A Flávio Bolsonaro victory would represent a clear change of course; a Lula victory could deepen the existing polarisation.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The rally, the candidates and the official result of the first round have been verifiably confirmed. The size of the crowd is presented as a media report, without an unsubstantiated exact figure.
- confirmed Thousands of Lula supporters gathered on Avenida Paulista on 11 October. — Terra and other Brazilian media reported a gathering of thousands of supporters. source
- confirmed Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro are going through to the second round. — Brazil’s electoral court confirmed this on 5 October. source
- confirmed Flávio Bolsonaro received 47.03 per cent and Lula 45.16 per cent of the valid votes in the first round. — Official result from the Tribunal Superior Eleitoral. source
- confirmed The second round will take place on 25 October 2026. — The official election calendar lists 25 October as the date of the second round. source
Editor's note
The gathering and Lula’s presence were reported by several Brazilian media outlets. No independent official crowd measurement was found; the article therefore refers only to thousands of participants.Sources
- Com gritos de sem anistia, apoiadores de Lula ocupam Avenida Paulista — Terra
- Lula spreekt tijdens bijeenkomst op Avenida Paulista — Band
- Flávio Bolsonaro en Lula naar tweede ronde — Tribunal Superior Eleitoral
- Braziliaanse verkiezingskalender — Tribunal Superior Eleitoral
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „brazilië luiz inácio lula da silva”
- NOS — „brazilië luiz inácio lula da silva”
- Het Parool — „brazilië luiz inácio lula da silva”