00:00And now to go also deep into the relevance of Brazil's democratic process, we go live from Sao Paulo and
00:07we have a special guest, Fernanda Forgerini, Editor-in-Chief of Opera Mundi and also holder of a Master's degree
00:14in Global Political Economy.
00:17Welcome, Fernanda, to From the South. Thank you very much for your time.
00:22Hi, Alejandra. Thank you so much for the invitation. It's a pleasure to be here with you.
00:29Fernanda, recent polls are showing a technical tie of 50-50 between both candidates. Others are giving the lead to
00:37incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
00:40How reliable are these polls, these forecasts, just a day away from election? And also, what does this say about
00:48the race and how it is performing and is evolving at this very moment, crucial hours?
00:54Yes. Some polls, such as Datafolha and Quest, how you said, now is narrowing a gap between Lula and Flávio.
01:03Not necessarily because the president's supporters are growing. Flávio Bolsonaro is not showing a moment of growing the polls.
01:12But in the first moment, it's because the far-right senator has lost growth. And in the previous round, the
01:22senator had 51% of the votes compared to 49% for the president.
01:28In the first poll of their first round, for example, Flávio led 52% to 48% of Lula. This
01:38shows how Lula is growing the polls.
01:43Flávio Bolsonaro is growing the polls. And we can say that it's a part of the fact that it's a
01:48government-approved right. And yes, there's Datafolha polls rise by a 1% point.
01:54This is showing the movements of the people on the street and engagement of the social mission, the contribution to
02:03this pro-Lula movement.
02:04And it's going to be an election since very, how can I say, this is an important moment for the
02:14Lula. Because we do not have, don't know if the polls is showing now the gap between Lula and Flávio
02:23on the results on Sunday.
02:27Also, the second and also final discussion, debate, presidential debate, is set to take place tonight between Flávio Bolsonaro and
02:36incumbent president Luis Inácio Lula da Silva.
02:39What key issues should voters be attentive tonight in the midst of this discussion, in this debate? And also, how
02:48could this debate influence those undecided voters?
02:53Yes, today there is a debate on the Red Globo, which is the largest television of the network in South
03:00America. It's a very important moment for the both campaigns.
03:05Because Flávio expects to distance himself further from Lula, since his stance was already criticized in the previous debate.
03:16So now it's very important for Lula to speak to undecided voters, as they are the ones who could be
03:26re-analyzing, they could decide the election.
03:29Because there is a lot of people who cannot change their votes. It's like 94% of the people who
03:37have already confirmed that they have not changed their voters.
03:41So now the campaign is looking for the in-the-side voters. And these voters, Lula has to look in
03:49this debate today.
03:51Also, could Brazil be, from your point of view, from your analysis, could Brazil be on the verge of a
03:58historic political comeback on behalf of Lula da Silva?
04:03And also, what challenges still are standing in the way for him successing in this run of election?
04:12Alejandra, sorry, I cannot understand your question. Can you repeat, please?
04:17Of course, could Brazil be on the verge of a historic comeback for Lula?
04:22And in that case, what challenges are still on the way for him to win this run of election?
04:31Yes, well, never in the history of the elections in Brazil had a turnaround.
04:40Since this never happened before in our history in the Brazil election, so we are saying this, if there is
04:50one person who can make this happen, it's Lula.
04:54We don't know if he can make it, but he's demonstrating the strength of the streets and the people talking
05:02with the persons who are not going to voters to make these people go to the election earns and vote.
05:10Make these, and the strength of the left, the young people has compromised to go to the streets and make
05:17the voters go to voters like the old papers too.
05:22And of this whole rejection, the return of the Bolsonaro to the power, I think the, the probably comeback of
05:30Lula comes this ways, the people on the street make a beautiful campaign who make your colors and took these
05:40streets, your feelings, your fears of the Bolsonaro's families come back to the power.
05:46And something that the other side does not have, that we make some acts on the streets very popular.
05:54So I think the, if the one person in the history of the Brazilian election who can make this turnaround
06:02is Lula, but it's not easy because we have these people who in the sides, like I said on the
06:11question before, the debate today to talk with the persons are in the side.
06:16And Lula have to make these people feel, if they want to vote on Lula, it's not easy because the,
06:27the debate is now is like economic, the moment of the economy of Brazil is not easy.
06:33The question of inflation is not easy because we have a war in Iran who make our oil go expensive.
06:41So, and it is election of much of lies of the far right sector.
06:48So the campaign of Flavio Bolsonaro is making lies about lies about lies of the Lula's campaign or the Lula's
06:56life of the round of Lula.
06:59So it's not easy for Lula to be the competitive president and was on this moment.
07:04But, well, gonna see what's gonna happen because the scenario is better for Flavio, of course, because he lead the
07:15first round.
07:16But Lula grow up only a few weeks ago.
07:21Thank you. Thank you, Fernanda, very much for your time here from the South, for your analysis in the framework
07:26of the important and crucial democratic process that Brazilians are undergoing.
07:30Thank you. Thank you, Alejandra. Thank you so much.
