Brazil’s presidential election will be decided in an October 25 runoff after conservative Sen.
Flávio Bolsonarounexpectedly finished the first round ahead of PresidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva, though neither secured the majority needed for an outright victory.With about 97% of the vote counted, the 45-year-old Bolsonaro had 47.45%, compared with 44.66% for Lula, 80. Polls had generally predicted a much closer contest with Lula slightly ahead, though neither candidate had been expected to cross the 50% threshold.
Bolsonaro had said before the vote that he was counting on "protest votes" from Brazilians motivated more by opposition to Lula than support for him. "I am very happy with the results. Brazil wants change," he said after the scale of his first-round showing became clear.
Lula acknowledged the surprise. "These were unexpected results," he said. "I was sure I was going to win the election in the first round." He added that "a new campaign begins tomorrow," describing Bolsonaro as representing "uncertainty for the country."
Flávio Bolsonaro has served in the Senate since 2019 and is the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, a close supporter of Israel who governed Br...