Ex-Brazilian President leads in polls

BRASILIA, Aug 31: Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has maintained a lead in the polls ahead of the October general elections. Lula, who represents the Workers' Party, holds 42.3 per cent of voter support, while incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro of the conservative Liberal Party has 34.1 per cent, according to the latest poll released by the MDA Survey Institute and commissioned by the National Transport Confederation. Both candidates have gained support since the previous survey released in May when Lula garnered 40.6 per cent and Bolsonaro, 32 per cent, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Lula is leading among those who earn up to twice the minimum wage, with up to a ninth-grade education, Catholics and in the northeast region," the poll said.

"Bolsonaro, on the other hand, is preferred by those earning more than twice the minimum wage, with a middle or higher education, evangelicals, and in the south and central-west regions," it added. Ciro Gomes of the Democratic Labor Party was in third place with 7.3 per cent, followed by Simone Tebet of the Brazilian Democratic Movement with 2.1 per cent.

The survey queried 2,002 people from August 25 to 28, with an accuracy rate of 95 per cent. Brazil will vote on October 2 to elect a new president, vice president, governors, deputies and senators. If no candidate emerges as a clear winner, a runoff will take place on October 30. (IANS)

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