Economic concerns boost conservative challenger ahead of Brazil runoff

Brazil's electorate is increasingly uneasy about the economy, a sentiment that is eroding support for the incumbent and aiding the conservative challenger. Union membership has fallen dramatically over the past decade and a half, while gig work has expanded to nearly two million full-time app drivers and couriers. A recent poll shows about half of respondents view the economy as deteriorating. In response, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has accelerated welfare payments to shore up his standing.