Bolsonaro leads Lula in Brazil runoff poll as Workers' Party accuses Meta of election interference

Flávio Bolsonaro holds a narrow lead over President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a Quaest poll ahead of Brazil's October 25th presidential runoff, with Lula facing a historically unprecedented deficit to overcome. Lula's Workers' Party has accused Meta of interfering in the election, adding a fresh flashpoint to an already volatile campaign. Brazil's Senate has approved a shorter working week in a move seen as a boost for Lula as he scrambles to close the gap.

Lula trails by 2.22 million votes from the first round — no second-placed candidate has ever come from behind to win a Brazilian runoff since 1989.

Mass rallies have re-energised the left, with Sunday's São Paulo demonstration filling almost 3km of the city's main avenue, the biggest left-wing gathering in years.

Lula, 80, is banking on 33 million first-round abstainers, telling the São Paulo crowd: 'Either you take part in political life, or it can't be fixed.'