By: Nisar Ahmad
BRASÍLIA: Brazil’s presidential election will go to a second round after Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emerged as the two leading candidates in Sunday’s first-round vote.
Flávio Bolsonaro secured 47.03 percent of the valid votes, while Lula received 45.16 percent, according to Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court. Neither candidate crossed the majority threshold required to win in the first round. (TSE)
The runoff will be held on October 25, 2026, when Brazilian voters will choose the country’s next president.
Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is a senator representing Rio de Janeiro and the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. He is contesting the presidency for the first time.
Lula, 80, is seeking another term as president after previously serving two consecutive terms and returning to office in 2023.
The first round campaign focused on major issues including the economy, public security, employment, social policies, environmental concerns and Brazil’s international relations.
With the runoff now set, both campaigns are expected to seek support from voters who backed candidates eliminated in the first round. The October 25 vote will determine who leads Brazil for the next presidential term.
