Flavio Bolsonaro finished ahead of incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the first round of Brazil's presidential election and is now the favourite to win the October 25 run-off, according to analysts cited by Al Jazeera and the Guardian.
Key facts
- Flavio Bolsonaro received 56.1m votes (47.03%) to Lula's 53.8m (45.16%), according to the Guardian.
- The second-round run-off is scheduled for October 25.
- Analysts project Bolsonaro, 45, to win the run-off and become Brazil's next president, according to Al Jazeera.
- Since democracy returned to Brazil in 1985, no first-round runner-up has won the second ballot, the Guardian reports.
Flavio Bolsonaro is in pole position to win Brazil’s presidential election after a first-round lead over the incumbent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, according to reporting from the Guardian. The outlet said the result, which it described as a shock first-round victory following a far-right surge, left progressive voters and Lula’s supporters reeling.
According to the Guardian, the 45-year-old right-wing candidate received 56.1 million votes to Lula’s 53.8 million, equating to 47.03% against 45.16%. The margin leaves the 80-year-old left-winger facing a difficult path back in the second round, scheduled for October 25.
The Guardian notes a significant historical hurdle for Lula: since the return of democracy to Brazil in 1985, no first-round runner-up has managed to turn the result around and win the second ballot.
Analysts cited by Al Jazeera say Flavio Bolsonaro is projected to win the run-off vote on October 25 and become Brazil’s next president.
With the run-off weeks away, attention now turns to whether Lula can reverse the first-round deficit or whether Bolsonaro converts his lead into a presidential win.
Why it matters
A Bolsonaro victory in the October 25 run-off would represent a change from Lula's incumbent left-wing government, according to the sources, which project Bolsonaro as the favourite to win.
Frequently asked questions
When is Brazil's presidential run-off?
The second-round run-off is scheduled for October 25, according to the Guardian and Al Jazeera.
What were the first-round results?
According to the Guardian, Flavio Bolsonaro received 56.1 million votes (47.03%) and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received 53.8 million votes (45.16%).
Can Lula still win the second round?
It is possible but historically difficult. The Guardian reports that since democracy returned to Brazil in 1985, no first-round runner-up has won the second ballot.