Brazil votes in tight Lula-Bolsonaro runoff with US ties at stake
Brazilians vote in a neck-and-neck presidential runoff between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro, with US influence over Latin America hanging on the result.
The story in focus
Brazil holds a presidential runoff on Sunday between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. Polls before the vote showed a neck-and-neck race with more than 50% needed. Bolsonaro led the first round on 4 October; the outcome bears on US influence in Latin America.
- Brazilians vote Sunday in a runoff between President Lula and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro; more than 50% is needed to win.
- Pre-vote polls showed the candidates neck and neck.
- Bolsonaro won the first round on 4 October by over 2.2 million votes, with about 33 million abstentions.
- Bolsonaro is a right-wing senator allied with Trump and son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro.
- Washington called Lula's interference allegation baseless; Bolsonaro denies receiving US help.
The candidates and the race
Brazil's presidential runoff on Sunday pits 80-year-old incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against 45-year-old right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro. Voters must give a candidate more than 50% to secure the office from January.
Polls before the vote showed the two neck and neck. Bolsonaro topped the first round on 4 October by more than 2.2 million votes; roughly 33 million of nearly 160 million voters abstained. The BBC reported that no candidate who trailed after the first round has won a second round.
US influence and policy stakes
The contest is framed partly around US ties. Bolsonaro has emphasized his proximity to the White House and argued Brazil should strike better deals with the Trump administration, including on rare minerals; Brazil estimates deposits of up to 21 million tons, second to China. He denies US government help.
Lula's administration accused Washington of interfering in the election, an allegation the US called baseless. The AP reported the Trump administration imposed high tariffs on Brazilian exports and sanctioned a Supreme Court justice. A Bolsonaro win would mark a rightward pivot for Latin America's largest economy; a Lula win would leave Brazil and Mexico with left-of-center leaders. Lula has pledged incentives including weekend free public transport; Bolsonaro has campaigned on crime and food costs. Both face corruption suspicions involving relatives and allies.
When did Brazil's first-round vote take place, and what was the result?
It was held on 4 October. Flávio Bolsonaro finished first, ahead of Lula by more than 2.2 million votes, according to the AP, with about 33 million voters abstaining.
Sources & further reading
- Brazil faces a tense Lula vs Bolsonaro runoff with US influence over Latin America at stake ↗ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
- Brazil election: Voters to choose between Lula and Bolsonaro's son ↗BBC
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