With nearly all votes counted, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro led President Lula but fell short of a majority. The two meet in a runoff on 25 October.
Brazil's presidential race is headed to a runoff on 25 October after Senator Flavio Bolsonaro finished ahead of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Sunday's first round without winning a majority.
The Guardian reported that, with 99.9 percent of votes counted, Bolsonaro had 47 percent and Lula 45.1 percent. Bolsonaro received 56.1 million votes to Lula's 53.8 million. El Pais, citing Brazil's Superior Electoral Court with 98 percent counted, reported 47.1 percent for Bolsonaro and 45 percent for Lula. AP, with 99.8 percent reported, had Bolsonaro just over 56 million votes to Lula's 53.7 million.
Bolsonaro, 45, is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Lula, 80, is seeking another term. The Guardian quoted Lula saying the result was unexpected and that he had been convinced he would win in the first round. He said Bolsonaro's past would become clearer to voters before the runoff. El Pais reported that Bolsonaro thanked about 56 million voters and said Brazil wants change.
Other right-of-centre candidates were eliminated. The Guardian said Ronaldo Caiado took 2.1 percent and Renan Santos 2.2 percent, and that their voters could strengthen Bolsonaro in the second round. The next presidential term is set to begin on 5 January.
The second round is a head-to-head between Bolsonaro and Lula on 25 October.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Lula called the first-round result unexpected and said he had expected to win outright
- Bolsonaro said Brazil wants change after thanking voters who backed him