Symbolic imageBrazil run-off tightens as Lula and Bolsonaro seek to disqualify each other
A Quaest poll puts Flávio Bolsonaro one point ahead of Lula, four days before Sunday's run-off. Both campaigns are turning to the electoral court to unseat the other.
On Tuesday, 20 October, Bolsonaro's lawyers asked the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) to declare Lula and Social Communications Minister Sidonio Palmeira ineligible for eight years, alleging "abuse of power" through mass WhatsApp posts promoting government programmes. Lula's campaign said it would file its own request on Wednesday, alleging "algorithmic manipulation" by Meta against the president. Al Jazeera reported that it had not yet been filed.
Poll within margin of error
Quaest, which interviewed 2,154 voters, has Bolsonaro at 45% and Lula at 44%, against 46% and 44% a week earlier. The margin of error is 2 points.
Meta under court deadline
On Monday the TSE gave Meta 24 hours to prove it treats both campaigns equally, under threat of a daily fine of around $200,000. Meta, which denies the accusations, said on Tuesday it had completed the required measures.
Lula's spending push
Lula's aid package totals nearly 300 billion reais by Folha de S.Paulo's calculation, reported by El País, and includes a 15% rise in Bolsa Família payments.
Other opinions
Telesur (Venezuela), citing UN experts, presents Meta's moderation as disproportionately hitting Lula's side and calls Bolsonaro "U.S.-backed". Meta attributes its errors to technical incidents, according to Le Monde.