Brazil’s presidential election is heading for a second round after Senator Flávio Bolsonaro emerged as the leading candidate in the first-round vote, narrowly finishing ahead of incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
With almost all ballots counted, Bolsonaro secured about 47.03% of the valid vote, while Lula received 45.16%, according to Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court. Neither candidate crossed the 50% threshold required to win the presidency outright.
The result sets up a closely watched runoff between Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, and Lula. The second round is scheduled for October 25.
Flávio Bolsonaro, a 45-year-old senator from Rio de Janeiro, described the first-round result as evidence that Brazilians want political change. He said his campaign would now focus on presenting its vision for a different style of government.
Lula, 80, acknowledged that he had expected to win in the first round but said the result would give his campaign another opportunity to make its case to voters. He is seeking another term after returning to the presidency in 2023.
The election campaign has been shaped by concerns over the cost of living, public security, corruption and Brazil’s economic outlook. The contest also reflects the deep political divisions that have persisted in Brazil since the 2022 election.
The first-round result was notable because several pre-election polls had placed Lula ahead of Bolsonaro, although some surveys had indicated a close race.
With neither candidate securing a majority, voters will now face a direct choice between the two leading contenders. The coming weeks are expected to bring an intense campaign as both sides seek support from voters whose preferred candidates failed to reach the runoff.
The October 25 vote will determine who leads Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, for the next presidential term.
