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Lula leads Flavio Bolsonaro in Brazil election poll after Banco Master scandal

By Reuters Reuters
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during the launch ceremony of a program to combat organized crime at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, May 12, 2026. REUTERS/Adriano Machado
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during the launch ceremony of a program to combat organized crime at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, May 12, 2026. REUTERS/Adriano Machado Adriano Machado Reuters

SAO PAULO - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva leads opposition Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in the race for this year's presidential election, gaining ground after reports linking the right-wing challenger to a disgraced banker, a poll released by pollster Datafolha showed on Friday.

Leftist Lula would win a potential second-round runoff against Flavio by 47% to 43%, the poll showed. A May 16 survey had them tied.

(Reporting by Isabel Teles, Editing by Iñigo Alexander)

FILE PHOTO: Brazilian senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro's son, attends the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) USA 2026 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, in Grapevine, Texas, U.S. March 28, 2026. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Brazilian senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro's son, attends the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) USA 2026 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, in Grapevine, Texas, U.S. March 28, 2026. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare//File Photo Callaghan O'Hare Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 11:52 AM.

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