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Lula tops Brazil poll after report linking Bolsonaro to disgraced banker

May 19, 2026 6:45 AM EDT

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during the launch ceremony of a program to combat organized crime at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, May 12, 2026. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo

SAO PAULO, May 19 (Reuters) - ‌Brazilian President ​Luiz ​Inacio Lula da Silva led Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in the first major poll for this year's presidential ‌election conducted since the publication of a report alleging ⁠ties between the right-wing challenger and a disgraced banker.

Lula would win a ‌potential second-round runoff against Flavio ‌by 48.9% to 41.8%, an AtlasIntel/Bloomberg poll showed on Tuesday. An April survey had the son of former President Jair ​Bolsonaro at 47.8% to Lula's 47.5%.

• Lula also led a first-round scenario with 47%, followed by Flavio at 34.3%, ⁠Renan Santos at 6.9%, Romeu Zema at 5.2% and Ronaldo Caiado at 2.7%

• In ​Brazil, if no candidate gets more than 50% of valid votes, the two frontrunners go to a ​second-round vote

• Latin America's largest economy ‌will hold a national election in October

• The poll was conducted after Intercept Brasil published a ⁠story alleging Flavio negotiated a commitment of 134 million reais ($26.85 million) from former Banco Master owner Daniel Vorcaro to finance a film about ⁠the life of his father

• Flavio has denied any wrongdoing, confirming that ​Vorcaro had agreed to finance the film but saying the deal was a "private sponsorship", with no favors in return

• Vorcaro's attorney declined to comment. ‌He has been in custody since March accused of trying to bribe a former central bank ‌director, which he denies

• AtlasIntel surveyed 5,032 people between May ⁠13-18

• The poll has a ‌margin of error ​of 1 percentage point in either direction($1 = 4.9902 reais)

(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Alex ‌Richardson)



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