00:00On today's before election day in Brazil, president and candidate Luis Inácio Lula da Silva led a caravan in Rio
00:07de Janeiro, the second largest city in the country.
00:11Our special envoy Belén de los Santos was there to bring us the story.
00:16It's only October and the sky is gray, but there are sparks of carnival in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
00:22Brazil's general election is just two days away, polls show a tight race,
00:26and president Lula is leading a final campaign caravan through this case-seating.
00:31My heart is tight, but we have faith in our friends who trust us, who are optimistic.
00:39I'm afraid because the fascist movement has grown a lot, especially in Latin America, with the U.S. interventions.
00:47But we have to have faith, we have to have hope and believe, right?
00:54In a context marked by U.S. increased pressure across the continent,
00:58president Lula has strengthened his call for Brazilians to defend their sovereignty,
01:02their institutions, their decades-long plans to tackle inequality in the region.
01:08It is very important to defend democracy, to defend public policies, to defend education.
01:14And Lula is the best candidate to demonstrate and to do all this for Brazil.
01:19While many point to Rio as the birthplace of Bolsonarism,
01:22the city has also been key to leftists struggle for a more fair society.
01:27Assassinated activist and councilwoman Marielle Franco is a long-standing symbol of this ongoing fight.
01:35This year marks the 10th anniversary of my mother's election, so it's a decisive election for us.
01:40We are on the streets again, singing and believing in politics,
01:42that the Congress this year will be led by women.
01:44And the family of Marielle Franco is continuing with her legacy.
01:47And let's go, let's go, because it's 1330 and 13.
01:51The rain did not stop Lula from taking to the streets to meet the cheering, dancing crowd.
01:56All old and young hold their faith in the former union leader to win a fourth term
02:02in a continent now majoritally dominated by the far right.
02:06It's wonderful, it's great, it's beautiful, it's beautiful.
02:09It may rain, it may rain, but we will be here enjoying today.
02:13And not to forget that the struggle changes lives.
02:15The struggle never ends.
02:19Lula in the first round.
02:20And Bolsonaro, never again.
02:22Francisco Zamudio, Belen de los Santos,
02:24for Chalester English, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
