Flavio Bolsonaro led Brazil's first-round presidential vote but fell short of a majority, setting a October 25 runoff against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Brazil's presidential election is headed to a runoff after neither leading candidate cleared 50 percent of valid votes in Sunday's first round. With about 99.99 percent of polling stations counted, CNN Brasil reported Flavio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party on 47.03 percent, or about 56.1 million votes, and incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party on 45.16 percent, or about 53.8 million votes.
The BBC reported the same first-round split with 99 percent counted and said the decisive vote is set for 25 October. Bolsonaro is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence over a failed coup attempt after the previous election.
The geographic split echoed 2022. CNN Brasil said Flavio Bolsonaro led in southern, southeastern and several central and northern states, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, while Lula led across the Northeast and in states including Bahia, Pernambuco and Amazonas.
Bolsonaro told supporters he was very happy to have finished ahead and said he expected to win the runoff, the BBC reported. He has pledged amnesty for his father and for supporters involved in the 8 January riots if elected. Lula had been polling slightly ahead during the campaign.
Other first-round candidates trailed well behind the two finalists. A runoff is required under Brazilian rules when no candidate wins a majority of valid votes.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Flavio Bolsonaro said he was very happy to have led the first-round count
- BBC reported he expressed confidence about the 25 October runoff