What's happening in Brazil 48 hours before their presidential election?

Leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his main rival, the conservative Flávio Bolsonaro, are hurling all sorts of accusations at each other in an effort to win Sunday's election in Brazil, where the United States suspended its consular services on Friday in an unprecedented move taken for security reasons.

The 80-year-old veteran Lula is facing off against Senator Bolsonaro, 45, who is seeking to ride the regional conservative wave fueled by Donald Trump, an ally of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Even the U.S. president said Thursday that he is following these elections "very closely."

Washington suspended its consular services in Brazil on Friday due to "concerns" regarding security. Australia closed its embassy for the same reason, but neither delegation specified the risks identified.

Polls show the leftist candidate in the lead, but predict a runoff on October 25, where both candidates—who have not faced off in any head-to-head debates—appear to be neck and neck.

Many will vote without conviction, choosing between a president seeking a fourth term and a surname—Bolsonaro—that has been a fixture in the last three elections.

The campaign was marked by corruption scandals, including an investigation into Flávio Bolsonaro, and the final stretch was dominated by controversies that arose on social media.

Holy controversy

A favorite among Catholics, Lula echoed a false report claiming that Bolsonaro intended to strip Nossa Senhora Aparecida of her title as patron saint of Brazil, in an alleged nod to evangelicals who do not venerate this Virgin.

The religious vote is highly sought after in Brazil, one of the countries with the largest Christian populations in the world.

For his part, Flávio Bolsonaro accused Lula of being "sexist" for saying that men are "cowards" when it comes to getting a prostate exam, while "women learn to accept being touched from a young age" at the gynecologist's office.

"Brazil can't take it anymore"

Both candidates believe they will win in the first round.

"The election will be decided on Sunday. And if not, so be it," said Lula.

Flávio Bolsonaro asserted that the leftist "will be ousted" from the presidency. "Brazil can't take it anymore."

Lula's third term is coming to a close with an economy that is slowing down and a crime rate that is alarming Brazilians. During the campaign, he sought the support of the working class: he increased funding for the Bolsa Família social assistance program and banned online gambling, a scourge that plunges millions into debt.