Lula searches for votes in the slums while Bolsonaro goes to the Catholics

Rio de Janeiro, October 12 (EFE). Candidates who will oppose each other in Brazil’s presidential ballot used Wednesday’s national holiday to defend their flags, and while progressive Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva visited the favela, head of state Jair Bolsonaro went to the largest Catholic haven in the United States. country.

With just over two weeks left before the polls, candidates are seeking to add votes for the second round of elections to be held on October 30.

Lula, who won the first round, wants to increase support in the state of Rio de Janeiro, a strategic region for the presidency and where the far-right leader, who aspires to re-election, is advancing.

For his part, Bolsonaro visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, the largest Catholic shrine in Brazil, to mingle with the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who came to the site to honor the patron saint on her day.

In the first round of elections, on October 2, Lula was the most voted candidate with 48.4% of the total, while Bolsonaro received 43.2% of the vote.

Hand in hand with people

The progressive leader raised his banner against hunger at “Complexo do Alemao,” a frustrating and dangerous gathering of slums in northern Rio.

The former president, who ruled Brazil from 2003 to 2010, promised to end the misery that exists in the slums and asserted that he would prove to “the elite who rule the country that the mineral world will once again reform” Brazil.

“People will eat three times a day again, and they will have an official job again,” the former trade unionist confirmed to a crowd of supporters who accompanied him during a picnic in the slums.

During his visit, Lula also met with leaders of other slums in Rio, whom he promised to promote public policies that improve the quality of life in these communities, if he becomes president.

“God is above everything”

Bolsonaro was greeted between whistles and applause during his visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida.

His opponents considered the presence of the far-right leader in Brazil’s largest haven opportunistic, in the midst of a campaign that will determine the course of the country.

The far-right leader arrived at the cathedral located in the city of Aparecida within the state of São Paulo, after attending the inauguration of an evangelical church in the state of Minas Gerais.

The current Brazilian president, who built his political banner under the slogan “Brazil above all, God above all,” has always turned to religion and conservative ideals for votes in his political life.

Although he has strong support among evangelicals, who make up about 30% of the electorate, Bolsonaro wants to add votes among Catholics by declaring Christian and conservative values ​​he speaks with evangelicals.

According to polls, while the far-right leader has the support of 63% of evangelicals, Lula has the support of 60% of Catholics.

Exploitation of faith

The use of religion as a weapon in the middle of the election campaign was “strongly condemned” the day before by the Brazilian bishopric, which lamented “the intensification of the exploitation of religion as a means of winning votes in the second round”.

The bishops’ message, however, was ignored by the candidates and even by the Archbishop of Aparecida himself, Orlando Brandes.

The bishop urged Brazilians to “exercise” their right to vote and, without mentioning any of the candidates, said “bread is lacking” and “that is what Brazil needs today,” along with peace and fraternity, in an apparent reference. To the flags announced by the progressive leader.

On the day the Brazilian patron saint is commemorated, Lula’s campaign also released a letter signed by the former president affirming respect for all religions if he came to power.

“Religion is a sacred and fundamental right that must be respected by all of us,” Lula says in the message published by the G1 news portal.

“As a Catholic, on this very special day for Brazil, I would like to ask, through Our Lady of Aparecida, that God bless us, so that we may build a democratic, just, independent and sovereign nation, where all ‘life and life in abundance’

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