The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvaleads the opposition senator Flavio Bolsonaro in this year’s presidential race, after gaining ground following reports linking the right-wing candidate to a disgraced banker, according to a Datafolha poll published Friday.
The leftist Lula would win a possible second round against Bolsonaro by 47% to 43%, according to the survey. A poll on May 16 showed them tied.
Lula led a first round scenario with 40% of the expected votes, followed by Flavius Bolsonaro with 31%, Ronaldo Fallen with 4% and Romeu Zema and Renan Santosboth with 3%.
The survey was conducted after Intercept Brazil published a report alleging that the senator had negotiated a US$24 million investment with the former owner of the Master Bank, Daniel Vorcaroto finance a film inspired by the life of his father, the former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Flavius has denied any wrongdoing. The lawyers of Vorcarowho has been detained since March after an extensive investigation into the bankruptcy of the Master Bankthey declined to comment.
Earlier this week, a survey of AtlasIntel/Bloomberg showed Lula surpassing Flavius in a possible second round by 48.9% versus 41.8%.
The survey of Datafolha also included a possible second-round scenario in which the former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro would face Lula rather Flaviusin case he withdrew from the race due to the scandal of the Master Bank. Facing Michelle, Lula would win reelection by 48% to 43%, according to Datafolha.
In a first round scenario without Flavius Bolsonaro on the ballot, Lula led with 41%, followed by Michelle Bolsonaro with 22%, Zema with 6%, fallen with 5% and Saints with 3%.
Datafolha surveyed 2,004 people between May 20 and 21; the survey has a margin of error of 2 percentage points in either direction.
