00:00Brazilian President LuÃs Ignacio Lula da Silva is parading the streets of Rio together with thousands of supporters
00:07in one of his last main campaigning actions ahead of Sunday's general elections.
00:12Our special envoy, Belén de los Santos, was there and is there now and has all the latest details for
00:18us.
00:18Go ahead, Bel, we hear you.
00:30Well, it seems like we are having some technical issues, but we are going to be right away with our
00:34special envoy, Belén de los Santos, in Rio de Janeiro.
00:39She was present during one of the last campaigns that Lula da Silva, president and also candidate for re-election,
00:47LuÃs Ignacio Lula da Silva,
00:48is holding in Rio de Janeiro at this today, just a few days away from general elections.
00:58We go back again with our special envoy, Belén de los Santos, in Rio de Janeiro.
01:03Go ahead, Bel, what do you have for us?
01:06Hello, Ale, do you hear me?
01:08We are here in Rio de Janeiro, as you were just saying, exactly what you were mentioning.
01:13The rally happened today in the morning, one of the closing rallies, caravans, actually,
01:19that the president, Lula da Silva, is doing while he is on his way to this important day that will
01:26be Sunday,
01:27the first moment for this election, the first round that is supposed to be a very close one.
01:33And we are looking at it, look at the numbers, we look at the polls, we are probably heading to
01:38a runoff also in October 25th.
01:41But this first date is going to set everything, it's going to set the scene.
01:46And this moment happened in Rio, let's recall, he is going to be in all three major states in terms
01:54of the electorate,
01:55that is Rio, then Minas Gerais, and then finally Sao Paulo.
01:58That is the final activities for Lula da Silva.
02:02Flávio Bolsonaro will also be having his latest activities also focused in the Southeast Boat.
02:12He's understanding that there is going to be that debate on those last boats.
02:18So that is what everything is pointing to and looking at.
02:23That is what we are seeing right now.
02:25Do you hear me, Ale?
02:36Bell, what made Rio de Janeiro one of the strategic choices for Lula for campaign in the final stretch before
02:45elections?
02:49Yes, well, as we were saying, one of the most important things that both campaigns are focusing right now is
02:56the dispute for the boats in the Southeast.
02:58These are key districts and the amount of voters that they can win for themselves.
03:04We have been saying this throughout the week.
03:07It is a very close campaign and the efforts are focused not only in those that are undecided,
03:12but also in those who are decided but could maybe switch their boats.
03:18Rio de Janeiro is a very important site, not only because it is the third state in terms of the
03:25electorate,
03:26but also because it is one of the strongholds of Bolsonaroism.
03:31Much of that first strength on the far right was born here in the city.
03:35So the amount of gaining and gaining strength in this state is key to understand what is going to happen
03:43in this election
03:44and also looking into a runoff.
03:47Also, let's recall that President Lula Silva is the candidate for governor also in Rio de Janeiro,
03:55Eduardo Paes, who is polling very well in the estimates as well.
04:00So that could be a driving force.
04:03All of that gathered with the focus in the Southeast.
04:06Let's recall he is then going to Mino Gerais and finally in Sao Paulo to close every activity tomorrow, Saturday.
04:14We are going to be seeing that in the next few days.
04:17So that is why Rio is definitely one of the key battlegrounds on our way to Sunday.
04:25Thank you very much, Bel.
04:26We are going for sure to keep in contact with you in these very crucial hours for Brazilian people
04:32just two days away from general elections.
Comments