Rute Pina

Brazil's 2026 presidential campaign began with competing street rallies by incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in São Bernardo do Campo and Flávio Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro. Lula emphasized his trade-union history, the origins of the Workers' Party, social issues and religious faith, while Flávio invoked the legacy of his imprisoned father, Jair Bolsonaro, and focused on economic, security and education promises. Polling cited by BBC News Brasil placed Lula ahead of Flávio in a potential second round, 46% to 43%. Other candidates held events across São Paulo, Goiás and Minas Gerais, but remained well behind the two frontrunners.

App-based delivery work has expanded rapidly in Brazil, but workers often endure long hours, unpaid waiting periods, intense time pressure and significant traffic risks. Interviews with delivery cyclists Matheus da Silva Pérez and Pedro Ivo illustrate how accidents, unsafe maneuvers and customer delays affect their income and well-being. Sociologist Douglas Alexandre Santos, who worked as a bicycle courier for six months, argues that platform incentives reward speed and can exploit young men’s desire to demonstrate courage, toughness and independence. iFood, 99Food and Keeta deny encouraging dangerous conduct and point to insurance, safety policies and accident support. Reliable data on accidents involving delivery workers remains limited because official systems do not identify whether injured cyclists were working at the time.