Flávio Bolsonaro edges Lula in Brazil’s first round, forcing an Oct. 25 runoff
Right-wing Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro finished first with about 47% of valid votes to President Lula da Silva’s 45%, short of the majority needed to win outright. The two meet again in three weeks.
The result: Flávio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL) won Sunday’s first round of Brazil’s presidential election with 47.03% of valid votes, or 56,103,033 votes, while incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Workers’ Party (PT) took 45.16%, or 53,870,724, according to Superior Electoral Court data reported by Agência Brasil. Because no candidate won more than half the valid votes, the two will face each other in a runoff on Oct. 25.
The rest of the field: Agência Senado reported turnout of 78.92% of registered voters. Writer Augusto Cury (Avante) finished third with about 2.89% of valid votes, followed by Renan Santos (Missão) at about 2.25% and Ronaldo Caiado (PSD) at about 2.18%.
Why it surprised: Lula had polled slightly ahead during the campaign, the BBC reported; a final Quaest poll cited by DW had Lula at 46% and Bolsonaro at 45% for the first round. The BBC said Bolsonaro’s showing exceeded expectations and that several eliminated candidates were right-wing alternatives, which could help him in the second round. His PL also had the most governors, senators and federal deputies elected in results so far, the BBC said.
What the candidates said: “I admit I was convinced I would win in the first round,” Lula said Sunday, according to the BBC. “The game is about to start. We are in extra time.” Bolsonaro said he was “very happy” and confident of a runoff win in three weeks, AFP reported, as quoted by the BBC.
Who is running: Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for masterminding a failed coup after losing the 2022 election, the BBC reported. He has pledged amnesty for his father and for supporters responsible for the Jan. 8, 2023, riots. Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth term. The president of Brazil’s electoral court said Sunday no evidence of international interference was found in the election, according to the BBC.
What this means: Brazil — Latin America’s largest country and economy — now has a three-week sprint to a runoff that the BBC says looks like Bolsonaro’s to lose. The outcome will decide whether Brazil joins the region’s shift toward right-wing governments aligned with the Trump administration.