Brazil Election Race Tightens as Banco Master Case Expands

In Brazil, the presidential race between Lula and Jair Bolsonaro is neck and neck, according to a poll cited in one headline. The campaign is playing out alongside a growing investigation into Banco Master: messages on the phone of banker Vorcaro show three months of conversations with Flávio Bolsonaro and mention six meetings, and Flávio Bolsonaro tried to reach Vorcaro the day before the banker's arrest. Lula's chief of staff discussed the Master case with Vorcaro's lawyer in a WhatsApp group called "Amigos." The government is preparing a national bank using data on people and companies linked to factions and militias, and an NGO tied to a militia member received R$ 2 million in earmarks from Flávio Bolsonaro, Chiquinho Brazão and a PL congresswoman. Lula campaigned in São Gonçalo with Eduardo Paes, and an event with businesspeople was fully booked. The TSE allowed campaign flyers using Jair Bolsonaro's image.