Brazil's Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro open presidential race in rival strongholds

Brazil's presidential race formally began on Sunday, with incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and opposition candidate Flávio Bolsonaro holding rival kickoff rallies in their respective political strongholds.

Lula addressed a crowd of more than 10,000 supporters at Vila Euclides Stadium in São Bernardo do Campo, the industrial city where he first rose to prominence as a metalworkers' union leader during the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985. The event marked the start of his bid for a fourth, non-consecutive term.

In Rio de Janeiro, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro gathered supporters on Copacabana beach. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, did not attend, as he remains under house arrest following a conviction related to an attempted coup. The younger Bolsonaro, who bears a strong physical resemblance to his father, acknowledged the comparison, quipping that "it is hard to compare Pelé's son with Pelé."

Both candidates directed significant attention toward women, who make up nearly 53 percent of Brazil's 158 million eligible voters. Lula, flanked by first lady Rosângela da Silva, pledged to unveil a full platform within ten days, with specific measures aimed at education and preventing violence against women. He also stressed gender equality, saying men must learn from childhood that they are no better than women.

Flávio Bolsonaro, accompanied by his mother and wife, similarly vowed to combat violence against women. He also promised a tough line on crime and said he would remove left-wing "ideology" from schools, adding that every student should have the right to dream of becoming an entrepreneur like Elon Musk.

Lula reiterated his opposition to foreign interference in Brazil's elections, responding to allies' accusations that the U.S. government is seeking to boost Bolsonaro's campaign through tariffs and diplomatic measures. On the subject of Brazil's rare mineral reserves, Lula insisted that no foreign power would tap those resources, saying they would be developed for the benefit of the Brazilian people.

Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, claimed during a live broadcast that he has received 1,800 death threats, though he offered no evidence. He noted he was wearing a bulletproof vest. His father was stabbed while campaigning in 2018, suffering serious internal injuries.

The younger Bolsonaro's campaign has faced early headwinds, with moderate parties keeping their distance. Still, Sunday's rallies set the stage for what is expected to be a closely contested election in October.