DOMINANT ANGLE
Belgrade presents the Brazilian presidential election as an announced duel between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro, whose outcome will determine whether Brazil follows the regional conservative trend or maintains its own path.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Lula (80 years old) is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term; Flávio Bolsonaro (45 years old) is running for the first time, according to Politika.
- 02
An Atlas poll cited by N1 gives 47.6% to Lula and 47.7% to Bolsonaro for the October 25 runoff.
- 03
Flávio Bolsonaro is the subject of an investigation for corruption, money laundering, and tax fraud related to funds from banker Daniel Vorcaro; he has not been charged, according to Politika.
ANALYSIS
Belgrade, October 4, 2026. The Serbian press is treating the Brazilian election as an announced duel between the outgoing president and the son of his predecessor. Politika, citing the AP agency, presents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro as the "main rivals" in general elections where voting is compulsory: abstainers without a valid excuse risk a fine.
Politika recalls that Lula, 80, is running in his seventh presidential election and is aiming for a fourth non-consecutive term, while Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is running for the first time and is seeking to bring his family back to power, his father having presided from 2019 to 2022. The daily notes that the two men differ on the fight against organized crime, the Amazon, and relations with the Donald Trump administration. Lula has emphasized the protection of natural resources and the pursuit of social benefits; Bolsonaro, on a tougher fight against organized crime.
N1 Serbia, which relies on Reuters, poses the question on a regional scale: will Brazil follow the "conservative turn" that has gained the region or will it choose its own path? The site judges it likely that Lula will come out on top by a narrow margin, but unlikely that he will obtain the majority of valid votes necessary to avoid a second round. It cites an Atlas poll published on Tuesday, which gives 47.6% to Lula and 47.7% to Bolsonaro for the second round on October 25. N1 also mentions the tensions with Trump, whose administration has imposed tariffs on Brazilian products, and Lula's warning against foreign interference. Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted last year for planning a coup, saw Trump describe the procedure as a "witch hunt".
Politika also reports on the investigation surrounding Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign, suspected of corruption, money laundering, and tax fraud regarding funds paid by banker Daniel Vorcaro for a film about his father; he has not been indicted and the investigation is ongoing. The newspaper describes the electronic voting system, introduced in the 1990s to combat fraud, and the results expected a few hours after the polling stations close. Nearly 158 million voters are concerned; the number of candidates is given as either 12 or 13 depending on the source.
