Veteran pro-union President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suddenly found himself the underdog after right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro took 47% compared to 45% for the incumbent in the October 4 first round.
A combative, three-week run-off campaign turned the political atmosphere electric. The left threw all its energy into securing a comeback, taking to the streets and mobilising on social media – notably with a WhatsApp channel dubbed "Lula’s Army" that now boasts 8.5 million subscribers.
