President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led a large rally in Vila Euclides, in São Bernardo do Campo, to formalise his candidacy for a fourth term in elections scheduled for 4 October 2026. The event, held in the district where the Workers' Party originated and where Lula served as a union leader during the dictatorship, brought together allied parties PSB, PSOL, PDT, PCdoB, Green Party and Rede.
The 80-year-old Lula stressed the need to strengthen the national defence industry. "I want to be prepared so that no one invades this country to take away the president, as they have invaded", said the president, adding that the nation must be "prepared for peace, not for war". The candidate questioned the technology deficits in the military sector, asking: "How is it possible that a country the size of Brazil does not have a drone factory?"
In his speech, Lula called on left-wing activists to prioritise the foreign security agenda. "I want to be prepared so that no one dares to take us for fools", he told the crowd. The message was interpreted in political circles as a reference to recent external military operations and the need to safeguard the country's strategic mineral resources.
The rally also formalised Vice President Geraldo Alckmin's candidacy as Lula's running mate. Likewise, Lula reaffirmed the need to defend the constitutional powers of the Executive Branch against the normative advancement of Congress in competencies such as the creation of university institutions and appointments to the Federal Supreme Court.
According to the latest poll by Datafolha consultancy, Lula leads with 40% voting intention against 32% for senator Flávio Bolsonaro, candidate of the Liberal Party and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. In a potential runoff, the measurements project 48% for the government and 43% for the opposition legislator.