Sao Paulo city elections a Lula-Bolsonaro proxy battle, Lula says

FILE PHOTO: Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a ceremony announcing investments by public banks in states, at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, December 12, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday that Sao Paulo's municipal elections later this year are shaping up to be a proxy battle between the leftist president and his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.

The southern hemisphere's biggest city will head to the polls in October to elect its next mayor and city councilors.