Ammon News - Brazilian President Luiz ‌Inacio Lula da Silva maintained his lead over opposition senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a new Datafolha poll released on Friday ahead of ​Brazil's October presidential election.

Lula would defeat the ​senator, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, in ⁠a potential runoff by 48% to 43%, the ​poll showed. A June survey showed Lula ahead by 47% ​to 43%.

In a first-round scenario Lula would lead with 40% of the votes, followed by Bolsonaro at 32%, Ronaldo Caiado ​at 4%, and Romeu Zema and Renan Santos ​each at 3%.
In Brazil, if no candidate gets more than 50% ‌of ⁠valid votes, the two frontrunners go to a second-round vote.

The poll follows a rift between Senator Bolsonaro and his stepmother, former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro.

She accused him ​in June ​of "disrespecting" her ⁠by criticizing her role in party affairs; he publicly apologized to her this ​week.

The poll was also conducted after the ​United ⁠States announced a 25% tariff on Brazilian goods last week, citing unfair trade practices, a charge Lula's administration rejects.

Datafolha ⁠surveyed ​2,004 people between July 22-23. The ​poll has a margin of error of 2 percentage points in ​either direction.



Reuters