Brazil polls open: Lula faces Bolsonaro son in divided presidential race

Polls have opened in Brazil, setting the stage for a presidential race defined by deep division. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faces off against Flavio Bolsonaro on Sunday. This contest pits the left-wing incumbent against a right-wing candidate from the same family as former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula is seeking his fourth term, but he must not serve consecutively after returning to office in 2023. He aims to continue social programs designed to tackle inequality. At 80 years old, he previously led the nation between 2003 and 2010. Flavio Bolsonaro, now a senator, represents the Liberal Party. His father is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for his role in an attempted coup after losing the 2022 election by just 1.8 percentage points.

About 160 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots this weekend. The vote will also decide lawmakers, governors, and senators. If no candidate wins a majority of valid votes, a run-off is scheduled for October 25. Recent opinion polls suggest a tight contest with Lula holding only a marginal lead. That advantage could shrink even further if the election goes to a second round.

The campaign has been dominated by crime, insecurity, and the high cost of living. Corruption remains a heavy topic as well. Concerns about US intervention in domestic affairs have also loomed large over recent months. A recent survey from Quaest found that 31 percent of respondents cited violence as their biggest worry. Corruption followed at 20 percent, with the economy and healthcare trailing behind.

Andre Pagliarini, an assistant professor at Louisiana State University, told Al Jazeera that the stakes are incredibly stark. He noted the candidates represent opposing visions on what Brazil's recent history means. For Lula, the election embodies the consolidation of democracy since the end of the dictatorship in 1985. The Bolsonaro family argues those institutions are rotten and unresponsive.

The conviction of Jair Bolsonaro and several military officers has revived past traumas from the US-backed military dictatorship that ruled for 21 years. That period left deep scars across the nation. Now, as voters head to the polls, they face a choice between restoring social safety nets or embracing a hardline approach on crime. The outcome could reshape Brazil's democratic future once again.