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Bolsonaro says to accept defeat if sees 'nothing abnormal' in Brazil vote

Saturday, 22 October 2022 10:35 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 22 October 2022 10:45 AM ]

Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faces incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro in a presidential debate, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Oct. 16, 2022. (AP photo)

Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has said that he will accept a possible defeat in the second round of the presidential election scheduled for October 30, provided that "nothing abnormal" happens during the vote.

"Today, everyone says that my acceptance (among the people) is much greater than that of my opponent (ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva). But let's leave it to the polls ... let's leave this question with the electoral transparency commission," Bolsonaro said in an interview on SBT when asked whether he would accept the result in case of a defeat.

"If the transparency commission, in which the armed forces also participate, shows nothing abnormal, there is no reason to doubt the outcome of the elections," added the former captain of the army, who repeatedly claimed fraud in the election without providing evidence.

He had gone so far as to threaten not to recognize the result if he lost to his leftist rival.

Bolsonaro and Lula hold final rallies before Brazil elections

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his front-runner opponent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hold rival rallies within spitting distance of each other as the presidential campaign will come to an end on Saturday.

Lula was the front-runner in the polls for months, with a 21-point lead over Bolsonaro in May, according to the Datafolha Institute.

However, Bolsonaro surprised in the first round on October 2, getting 43 percent of the vote, only five points behind Lula, a much smaller gap than polls had projected.

In the final phase of the campaign, Bolsonaro has reduced his attacks on electronic voting and turned on polling firms, which he accused of "lying" to favor his main rival.

Polls still show Lula leading with 49 percent to Bolsonaro's 45 percent, according to Datafolha. Meanwhile, one percent still remain undecided and four percent have indicated they would vote white.

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