Brazil presidential campaign kickoff rallies

Brazil's two main presidential candidates, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, kicked off their campaigns on Sunday, August 16, 2026, with rallies in their political strongholds. Lula spoke to over 10,000 supporters at Vila Euclides Stadium outside Sao Paulo, while Bolsonaro gathered thousands on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. The election is scheduled for October 4, 2026. Lula, seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term, emphasized his policies and denounced foreign interference, accusing the United States of trying to boost Bolsonaro's bid through tariffs and visa revocations. He also highlighted Brazil's rare minerals, vowing to exploit them for Brazilians. Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest for an attempted coup conviction, sought to distinguish himself from his father, vowing to fight crime and remove left-wing ideology from schools. Both candidates appealed to women voters, addressing gender violence. Bolsonaro claimed he received 1,800 death threats. Other candidates, Ronaldo Caiado and Romeu Zema, also campaigned. Argentina's President Javier Milei attended Bolsonaro's convention, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support.