Opposition Accuses Lula of Vote‑Buying as He Expands Social Benefits Before Polls

In the final stretch before Brazil’s October 4 presidential election, incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a package of social reforms that opponents claim is designed to influence the vote. The centerpiece is a 15 percent uplift to the Bolsa Família cash‑transfer programme, raising the monthly payment to roughly 113 reais per family.

Alongside the cash‑benefit boost, the government will make weight‑loss medication available at no cost through public hospitals, positioning the move as a health‑care initiative aimed at combating obesity among low‑income populations.

Jair Bolsonaro’s team immediately labeled the steps “vote‑buying”, asserting that the timing is meant to sway undecided voters. While the administration defends the measures as inflation‑adjusted and needed for public welfare, right‑wing candidate Renan Santos has approached the electoral court with a request to suspend the benefit increase until a new president is sworn in.

Lula’s campaign also seeks to win the support of female voters by pledging tougher legislation against gender‑based crime and emphasizing policies that would grant women more personal freedom and ‘me‑time’. Analysts note that women are expected to constitute just over half of the electorate, making them a decisive demographic.