SÃO BERNARDO DO CAMPO — President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva launched his campaign for a fourth presidential term at the Vila Euclides football stadium in São Bernardo do Campo. The 80-year-old leader returned to the site where he spearheaded strikes in 1979, using the platform to issue warnings against foreign interference and assert national sovereignty over Brazil's mineral resources.

During the campaign launch, Lula addressed concerns about external influence on Brazilian affairs. "In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it does not belong," he said. He emphasized that domestic electoral processes must remain free from outside intervention.

"Don’t meddle in the Brazilian elections, because the Brazilian elections are a Brazilian problem, just as American elections are their business, not mine," he said. He stated his desire to prevent any invasion of the country, noting, "I want to be prepared, so that no one invades this country."

The president also focused on economic independence, particularly regarding natural resources. Brazil holds the world’s second largest rare-earth deposits after China. Lula vowed to develop these deposits while maintaining strict control over access.

"No one (abroad) will tap our minerals. We are going to tap them for the benefit of the Brazilian people," he said. He warned that China, the U.S. and France would not get access to Brazil’s mineral wealth without respecting the country’s sovereignty. To support this stance, he called for increased defense spending.

Lula outlined domestic priorities, vowing to dedicate a fourth term to improving education and healthcare. He also addressed public safety, vowing to target organized crime bosses living in luxury apartments. "It’s easy to kill a crook in a favela. But the guy running the show lives in a penthouse … and we need to stop this," he said.

The president referenced the proliferation of firearms under previous administrations. "They handed out … more than a million weapons," he said. He also spoke on social issues, stating, "Men need to learn from childhood that they are no better than women. We need to be equal." He said he would launch his detailed platform within 10 days.

Outside the stadium, activists distributed stickers with profanity directed at former U.S. President Donald Trump. Inside, supporters listened as Lula framed the election as a defense of democracy. Author André Pagliarini described the upcoming showdown as "the single most important electoral contest this year in the world."

Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator and the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, launched his presidential campaign on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. The 45-year-old candidate wore a bullet-proof vest under a yellow Brazil shirt during the event. He stated he has received 1,800 death threats.

Bolsonaro positioned himself as an alternative to the current administration. "I am going to be Brazil’s next president because I’m going to fight this system," he said. He vowed to fight crime and remove what he described as left-wing ideology from Brazilian schools. He also stated he would work to fight violence against women.

Bolsonaro was jailed in 2025 for 27 years for plotting a post-election power grab. He remains under house arrest following his conviction for an attempted coup. Far-right radicals rampaged through Brasília in January 2023, an event that followed the 2022 election results.

Polling data indicates a tight race. A Quaest poll found Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with 43% support and Flávio Bolsonaro with 40% support in a simulated run-off. In a first-round scenario, Lula polled at 38 percent and Flávio Bolsonaro at 31 percent. There are 13 candidates in the presidential race.

The first round of the Brazilian presidential election is scheduled for 4 October. A presidential run-off is scheduled for 25 October if no candidate secures 50% of the vote in the first round. Campaign ads are scheduled to start airing on TV and radio at the end of the month. Women account for nearly 53% of Brazil’s 158 million eligible voters.

Why It Matters

Brazil, an upper middle income economy located in Latin America & Caribbean with its capital in Brasilia, faces a pivotal election that could reshape its domestic policies and international alliances. The contest pits the incumbent against the son of a former president convicted of attempting to overturn election results, showing deep political divisions.

The outcome will determine Brazil's approach to resource sovereignty, public security, and relations with major powers like the U.S. and China. With women comprising the majority of the electorate, candidates' positions on gender equality and social issues carry significant weight. The election also serves as a test of democratic stability following the January 2023 riots and the subsequent imprisonment of Bolsonaro.

Timeline

In 1979, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spearheaded strikes at the Vila Euclides football stadium. He won the presidency in 2002 and served until 2010. Dilma Rousseff was impeached in 2016.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was jailed in 2018 for alleged corruption. In 2022, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the presidential election, defeating Bolsonaro with 50.9% of the vote. Far-right radicals rampaged through Brasília in January 2023. Bolsonaro was jailed in 2025 for 27 years for plotting a post-election power grab.

What's New

Additional reporting shows specific statements made by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva regarding national sovereignty and domestic policy. He stated, "In Brazil, we do not accept anyone sticking their nose where it does not belong." He also said, "I want to be prepared, so that no one invades this country." Regarding elections, he stated, "Don’t meddle in the Brazilian elections, because the Brazilian elections are a Brazilian problem, just as American elections are their business, not mine." On resources, he said, "No one (abroad) will tap our minerals. We are going to tap them for the benefit of the Brazilian people." He warned that China, the U.S. and France would not get access to Brazil’s mineral wealth without respecting the country’s sovereignty.

He said he would launch his platform within 10 days. He also stated, "Men need to learn from childhood that they are no better than women. We need to be equal." Additionally, he called for increased defense spending.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the duration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's legal challenges. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he would launch his platform within 10 days. The Brazilian Supreme Court ruling states that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spent 580 days in prison before the supreme court quashed his conviction.

Polling data and past election results present different metrics for voter support. The Quaest poll commissioned by Globo found Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with 43% support and Flávio Bolsonaro with 40% support in a simulated run-off. Brazilian electoral results show that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated Bolsonaro with 50.9% of the vote in the previous election.

First-round polling scenarios also vary by source. The Quaest poll commissioned by Globo found Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with 43% support in a run-off context, while the same poll indicates Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva polled at 38 percent in the first-round scenario. Brazilian electoral results confirm his 50.9% victory in the previous election, which differs from the current 38 percent first-round polling figure.