Brazil’s presidential election goes to runoff

The Brazil presidential race will advance to the second round after the far-right candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, beat the incumbent left-wing President, Luiz da Silva, but failed to secure the outright majority he needed to avoid a runoff.

Join the Premium Times WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.

Open in WhatsApp

Neither candidate won 50 per cent or more, as required by the constitution, despite getting 97 per cent of the total votes counted in Sunday’s election.

Mr Bolsonaro, who stands against the leftist incumbent President and his fourth term in power, won the election with 47 per cent of the vote, while Mr da Silva received 45 per cent.

Brazilian authorities announced that the race will go to a runoff on Sunday night, according to Al Jazeera.

The runoff election is scheduled for 25 October and will determine whether US President Donald Trump will gain an ideological ally in the largest country in South America.

The country’s economy has been central to the election, alongside the cost-of-living crisis, growing insecurity, and personal debt. Although Brazil has recorded declining poverty and unemployment, household incomes have failed to keep pace with rising living costs.

A September survey cited by the Council on Foreign Relations found that 33 per cent of Brazilians said their income had not increased over the previous year, while another 21 per cent said their income had risen but not enough to keep up with the cost of living.

Stay Ahead with Premium Times

Add as a preferred source on Google

Mr Bolsonaro has been capitalising on this in his campaign.

Speaking to journalists after the result was announced, Mr Bolsonaro said, “Brazil wants change; that’s the reading of what happened today.

“It’s the end of the Workers’ Party era,” he added, in a reference to Lula’s party.

Meanwhile, Mr da Silva said the result was “unexpected” and that he had thought he could win in the first round.

“Tomorrow we start a new campaign. I am very good in the knockout stage. We will see who has the best plan,” he said.

READ ALSO: Alawuba seeks to deepen Nigeria-Brazil trade, investment ties

Mr Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party (PL) has the most governors, senators, and federal deputies elected so far. This means the party is likely to have the majority and the most influence in Congress.

However, both candidates face image problems. Polls show that many Brazilians disapprove of the Bolsonaro family. The far-right politician is the son of the former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for masterminding a failed coup after losing the 2022 election.

A large share also disapprove of the President and his Workers’ Party.

Mr Trump, who had had tense relations with the Lula government, had openly endorsed Mr Bolsonaro. In May, he received the Brazilian politician at the White House and in June described him as a “smart man who loves his country.”

But when directly asked whether he supported his presidential candidacy, Mr Trump said he was “watching the election very closely.”