Brazil heads to Lula–Bolsonaro runoff amid regional stakes

Photo — Mario Schafer / Pexels

Brazil’s electoral authorities confirmed that Lula and Bolsonaro advanced after Sunday’s first round, with Bolsonaro leading roughly 47% to Lula’s 44.9% of valid votes as nearly all ballots were counted. The runoff pits the leftist incumbent against the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and is being closely watched because Brazil is the region’s largest economy and a major diplomatic and geopolitical actor. A Bolsonaro victory would strengthen the right across Latin America and potentially align Brazil more closely with U.S. President Donald Trump, while Lula is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term. The vote is scheduled for October 25.

Sources: BBC, CNN, Anadolu Agency, Associated Press, Al Jazeera