Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's lead over Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has narrowed ahead of Sunday's first-round presidential election, according to a new CNT/MDA poll.
The survey, released on Saturday, showed Lula with 43.1% support in the first-round scenario, compared with 38% for Bolsonaro. Augusto Cury was on 3.2%, followed by Ronaldo Caiado on 3% and Renan Santos on 1.5%.
The latest figures represent a change from a September 15 CNT/MDA poll, when Lula had 40.5% and Bolsonaro 30.4%. The latest survey therefore shows both leading candidates with higher stated support, while the gap between them has become smaller.
When the poll considered only valid votes, excluding blank and invalid ballots, Lula was at 47.8% compared with 42.1% for Bolsonaro.
Brazil's electoral system requires a candidate to secure more than half of the valid votes to win the presidency in the first round. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the two leading candidates will compete in a runoff scheduled for October 25.
The CNT/MDA poll also examined a potential second-round contest between Lula and Bolsonaro. In that scenario, Lula received 47.3% support, while Bolsonaro registered 43.1%. The previous survey had shown Lula ahead by 47.3% to 40%.
The survey was conducted between September 30 and October 2 among 2,007 people across Brazil. It has a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points, meaning small differences between candidates should be considered within the poll's stated uncertainty.
The narrowing gap comes as the presidential campaign enters its final hours. Lula is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, while Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, is running for the presidency under the Liberal Party.
The election is being closely watched in Brazil and abroad because of the country's political divisions and its importance as Latin America's largest economy. The first-round vote will determine whether Brazil chooses its president immediately or proceeds to a second-round contest on October 25.