Brazil election: Why Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro head into high-stakes runoff | Today’s news
Brazilians voted on Sunday in a high-stakes presidential election pitting incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro as the country’s political battle unfolded amid a broader rightward shift across Latin America.
Neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round, sending Lula and Bolsonaro to a runoff scheduled for Oct. 25, according to Reuters.
Nearly 159 million eligible voters also cast ballots for 27 state governors, all 513 members of the lower house of Congress, 54 of 81 senators and members of state legislatures, the report said.
The polling stations closed at 5 p.m., voters still in line could cast their vote.
Flavio Bolsonaro exceeded expectations
Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, did better than expected in the first round compared to previous polls, finishing narrowly ahead of Lula, setting up a very close second round.
The election was shaped by concerns about the cost of living, corruption and public safety, while the contest also reflected a wider ideological divide running across Latin America.
Right-wing parties linked to US President Donald Trump made gains in several countries in the region, including Argentina, Colombia, Honduras and Peru, Reuters reported.
Flavio Bolsonaro has sought to emphasize his ties to the Trump administration.
He denied that the US government was helping him and campaigned for tougher action against criminal groups, closer ties with the White House and better trade arrangements, including in the precious minerals sector.
He also pledged to seek the release of his father and bring him back into political life.
Lula is seeking a fourth term
Lula, 80, is running for his seventh presidential election and is seeking another term after returning to office in 2023.
His government strengthened relations with Beijing. The president has increasingly made resistance to US pressure a campaign issue, especially after the Trump administration imposed heavy tariffs on Brazilian exports, revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador and sanctified a Supreme Court judge involved in the investigation that ultimately led to Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction.
Lula’s popularity also declined during his third term.
After the vote, Lula said if re-elected he would have to “do twice what we did” and expressed confidence he could win in the first round, Reuters reported.
But the election has proved more difficult for the incumbent president than expected, amid concerns about affordability and a corruption scandal involving the judge who led the Bolsonaro investigation.
Bolsonaro campaigns on crime, security
For Bolsonaro, crime and public safety were central issues in the campaign.
Bolsonaro also faces corruption charges, including allegations that he reportedly received millions of dollars from a disgraced banker to allegedly make a film about his father’s life.
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Lula’s supporters pointed to his social security programs and resistance to pressure from Washington as key reasons to back him in the runoff.
The incumbent has sought to portray his government as a defender of Brazil’s economic interests while emphasizing policies aimed at reducing poverty and inequality.
A runoff on October 25 will force Brazilian voters to choose between keeping Lula in office and returning the country to the right under Flavio Bolsonaro.
