Brazil Votes in Closely Fought Presidential Run-off Between Lula and Bolsonaro

Sebastião Moreira/EPA via BBC

Flávio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are competing for the presidency in a run-off election due on Sunday

Brazilians went to the polls on Sunday for a polarising presidential run-off between incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, in a contest with significant implications for US influence in Latin America.

Opinion polls ahead of the vote showed the two candidates in a tight race. To become Brazil’s next president in January, a candidate must secure more than 50 per cent of the vote. The contest pits veteran left-wing politician Lula against Bolsonaro, an ally of US President Donald Trump and the son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Flávio Bolsonaro secured more than 2.2 million votes more than Lula in the first round earlier this month. However, more than 33 million people out of nearly 160 million eligible voters did not participate, despite voting being compulsory in Brazil.

The candidates hold sharply contrasting positions on issues including relations with the United States, climate change and social welfare.

A Bolsonaro victory would mark a rightward shift in Latin America’s most populous country and largest economy, following electoral gains by Trump-aligned politicians in Chile, Peru and Colombia. A Lula victory would mean Brazil and Mexico remained under left-of-centre leadership.

The run-off is the latest contest between Brazil’s two deeply divided political camps, which inspire strong support as well as fierce opposition. Four years ago, Lula defeated Jair Bolsonaro by the narrowest margin in a presidential election since Brazil returned to democracy in 1985.

Lula, who previously governed Brazil from 2003 to 2010, has faced a difficult re-election campaign amid concerns over the cost of living and public security. Bolsonaro has made a tough approach to crime central to his campaign and pledged to reduce food prices.

Both candidates have faced corruption allegations involving relatives and associates. Bolsonaro has been implicated in a major scandal currently shaking Brazil, while Lula previously spent more than a year in prison following corruption convictions that were later annulled.

Bolsonaro’s admission that he accepted around $12 million from disgraced former banker Daniel Vorcaro to produce a film about his father’s life has cast a shadow over his campaign. He is under investigation over allegations of corruption, money laundering and tax evasion linked to the case.

During the campaign, Lula repeatedly portrayed Bolsonaro as a threat to democracy, pointing to his father’s house arrest over an alleged coup attempt. Bolsonaro has pledged to seek an amnesty for his father if elected.

The next president will also have a significant influence on Brazil’s judiciary, with at least three of the Supreme Court’s 11 seats expected to become vacant following upcoming retirements. Bolsonaro has frequently criticised the court and pledged judicial reforms, as the institution faces a corruption scandal of its own.

Seeking to win over undecided voters after losing the first round, Lula has introduced a series of costly incentives. Recent government measures include backing a debt-relief programme for small businesses and pledging free public transport at weekends. His government also welcomed Senate approval of a proposal to end the six-day working week, a popular measure it supports.

Lula has also criticised Trump over the risk of US intervention in Brazil’s elections, following Washington’s imposition of steep tariffs on Brazilian exports and its designation of drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organisations. Some experts believe the measures may have been intended to portray Lula as weak on crime.

Flávio Bolsonaro, meanwhile, has highlighted his close ties to the White House and argued that Brazil should secure better agreements with the Trump administration, including in the rare-earth and critical minerals sector. Brazil estimates that its mineral deposits could contain up to 21 million tonnes, making it the world’s second-largest holder after China. Bolsonaro denies receiving assistance from the US government.

Brazil uses electronic voting, with results usually available within hours of polling stations closing at 5pm local time (2000 GMT) in Brasília.

Source: AP



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