‘Olê, olá, Lula!’ Brazil’s voters sing for a heroic comeback to banish Bolsonaro

Polls show former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is on course for a return to power

It was a scene that could have been plucked from Brazil's history books: an enraptured crowd, a sea of flags and, on stage above them, a bearded leftist in a bright red shirt.

The president of hope is here!" the master of ceremonies roared as the star of the show arrived in a police convoy to address the people whose country he is promising to save.