Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro held a rally in Capelinha, Minas Gerais, on October 15 ahead of a closely contested runoff. He recorded a message promising to continue the political project of his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The visit was his first to Minas Gerais during the second-round campaign, according to Brazilian news outlet Metrópoles. Capelinha lies in the state’s Jequitinhonha Valley.

Rally targets undecided voters

The gathering formed part of a series organized by federal deputy Nikolas Ferreira, the rally series' organizer. Known as Bloco do 22, the events aim to attract undecided voters and people who cast blank ballots in the first round, Metrópoles reported.

Ferreira attended alongside fellow federal deputies Domingos Sávio and Guilherme Derrite. The candidate addressed the crowd from a sound truck.

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Bolsonaro asked who missed his father and encouraged chants calling for the former president’s return to power. He also said the gathering showed that Brazil wanted change.

A message to his father

During the event, Bolsonaro recorded a video addressed to Jair Bolsonaro, with allies beside him. He said those attending were placing their trust in the project his father had begun.

The candidate promised to carry that project forward and said others would continue it after them. His father is imprisoned for an attempted coup, according to the Brazilian coverage of the rally.

Jair Bolsonaro lost the 2022 presidential election to Lula. His son now faces the incumbent in the October 25 runoff after leading the first-round vote.

A close race and another planned visit

Recent polls show a close contest between Bolsonaro and Lula. Reports describe either a technical tie or a slight Bolsonaro advantage within the margin of error.

Bolsonaro’s participation in a similar event in Nanuque, another Minas Gerais municipality, had not been confirmed when Metrópoles reported. That gathering was planned for October 16.

He has another visit to the state scheduled for October 24, the day before the runoff. The planned itinerary includes a motorcycle rally and campaign activities in Belo Horizonte.