Thousands of supporters joined Lula’s campaign walk through Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, according to Portuguese news agency Lusa. The president warned that electing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro would bring organised crime into the government.

Lula has repeatedly alleged links between his opponent and relatives of members of paramilitary groups in Rio de Janeiro. He also challenged Bolsonaro to open his telephone and banking records to address corruption suspicions.

Minas Gerais is Brazil’s second-largest voting state. Bolsonaro won 48.2% there in the first round, against Lula’s 43.3%, Lusa reported.

Lula highlights social measures

Alongside his attacks on Bolsonaro, Lula highlighted measures he described as already approved during the campaign. They included cutting the working week from 44 to 40 hours and forgiving debts owed by millions of self-employed workers.

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He also renewed promises to make municipal public transport free on weekends and public holidays. Another pledge would expand financial support for university students.

Bolsonaro pledges to restore events tax breaks

Bolsonaro has offered support for businesses in events, culture and tourism. On October 20, he promised to restore Perse, a tax-relief programme introduced under his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The programme began in 2021 to help businesses affected by pandemic restrictions and ended in 2025. It exempted eligible companies from four federal taxes, according to Brazilian news outlet Diário do Centro do Mundo.

Its operation also drew scrutiny. In 2024, the Federal Revenue Service identified 2,239 businesses claiming the incentives without completing the required authorisation process, the outlet reported.

Fernando Haddad, finance minister at the time, said keeping Perse could have cost approximately 20 billion reais in forgone revenue in 2025. Bolsonaro has not detailed how he would compensate for the revenue lost by restoring it.

Debate checks and a call to respect the vote

Lula’s campaign has asked broadcaster TV Globo to provide live fact-checking during the presidential debate scheduled for October 23. Edinho Silva, president of Lula’s Workers’ Party and his campaign coordinator, said the request had been made.

Separately, Brazil’s National Conference of Bishops, known as the CNBB, issued an October 21 message urging voters to consider candidates’ records and commitment to democracy. It also called for defence of the Constitution and respect for legitimate election results.

The bishops’ conference had previously disputed an accusation from Bolsonaro. He said the Workers’ Party promoted a false story that he intended to strip Our Lady of Aparecida of her title as Brazil’s patron saint, alleging that people within the CNBB helped spread it.

The CNBB denied producing, authorising or helping disseminate false election information. It said it opposed such material regardless of whom it benefited or harmed.