Lula leads Flavio Bolsonaro in Brazil election poll

SAO PAULO, July 24 (Reuters) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva maintained his lead over ‌opposition senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a new ‌Datafolha poll released on Friday ahead of Brazil’s October presidential election.

Lula ​would defeat the senator, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, in a potential runoff by 48% to 43%, the poll showed. A June survey showed Lula ahead ‌by 47% to ⁠43%.

• In a first-round scenario Lula would lead with 40% of the votes, followed ⁠by Bolsonaro at 32%, Ronaldo Caiado at 4%, and Romeu Zema and Renan Santos each at 3%.

• In ​Brazil, if ​no candidate gets more ​than 50% of valid ‌votes, the two frontrunners go to a second-round vote.

• The poll follows a rift between Senator Bolsonaro and his stepmother, former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro.

• She accused him in June of “disrespecting” her by criticizing her ‌role in party affairs; he ​publicly apologized to her this ​week.

• The poll ​was also conducted after the United States ‌announced a 25% tariff on ​Brazilian goods ​last week, citing unfair trade practices, a charge Lula’s administration rejects.

• Datafolha surveyed 2,004 people between July ​22-23. The ‌poll has a margin of error of 2 ​percentage points in either direction.

(Reporting by Andre ​Romani; Editing by Chris Reese)