Ricardo Nunes, the acting mayor of São Paulo, has confirmed an event with former President Jair Bolsonaro for October 22, 2024. This marks a significant change in their relationship as the mayoral race enters its final stretch. Nunes praised Bolsonaro as “the greatest right-wing leader in our country,” stressing the importance of his support.
The change follows Bolsonaro’s conspicuous absence from Nunes’ campaign during the first round of voting. Earlier, Bolsonaro had flirted with the support of Pablo Marçal, a candidate from the PRTB party. He even stated that Nunes was not his “dream candidate” for the presidency of São Paulo.
Recent polls show Nunes leading with 45% of voting intentions, compared to 33% for his opponent Guilherme Boulos. The race has been tight since the first round, with Nunes receiving 29.48% of valid votes (1,801,139 votes) and Boulos receiving 29.07% (1,776,127 votes).
Bolsonaro’s support seems crucial for Nunes’ campaign. A Datafolha poll shows that the percentage of São Paulo voters who associate Bolsonaro with Nunes has risen from 44% to 49% in recent weeks. This increase can be attributed to Bolsonaro’s more active participation in the campaign.
The run-off election is set for October 27, 2024. Both candidates are working to consolidate the support of different political factions. Nunes is positioned as the centre-right candidate, while Boulos has the support of President Lula and the left.
The evolving relationship between Nunes and Bolsonaro reflects the complex political landscape in São Paulo and Brazil. Alliances and support can shift rapidly as crucial elections approach. Voters will soon decide who will lead South America’s largest city for the next four years.
