Brazil: Lula and Bolsonaro go to runoff election for presidency

The Brazilian presidential election is heading to a runoff between the left-wing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro. According to preliminary information from the electoral authorities, after 97 percent of the votes were counted, Lula got around 44.6 percent, his right-wing rival got 47.4 percent - both of them missed the absolute majority required for victory in the first round of voting

Because none of the candidates received more than 50 percent of the valid votes, the two strongest candidates will compete against each other in a runoff election on October 25th.

In early partial counts, Bolsonaro initially had more than 50 percent. However, the southern states that were more favorable to him reported their results more quickly - while the votes from Lula's stronghold in the northeast were counted more slowly.

80-year-old against son of ex-president

The left-wing politician Lula, now 80 years old, is aiming for a fourth term in office. 45-year-old Flávio Bolsonaro wants to inherit the legacy of his father: former President Jair Bolsonaro. He is in house arrest and sentenced to 27 years in prison for an attempted coup. From the perspective of the Bolsonaro family and their supporters, however, he is a political prisoner. Jair Bolsonaro was a close ally of US President Donald Trump.

Lula from the PT workers' party wants to continue his policies with social programs and public investments. Flávio Bolsonaro from the Liberal Party PL promised a leaner state and a tougher approach to crime.

Choice of direction for the entire region

The election in Brazil is seen as a directional election. A success for Bolsonaro would further drive the shift to the right in Latin America. In recent years, several countries have moved significantly to the right through elections. A Lula victory, on the other hand, would keep Brazil alongside Mexico as a major left-wing bastion in the region.

Around 159 million Brazilians were called to vote in Latin America's largest country. In addition to the president and his deputy, deputies, senators and governors were also elected. The election campaign was marked by concerns about the weakening economy, corruption scandals and allegations of US interference. National debt is over 82 percent of economic output.

Election successes for Bolsonaro family members

Flávio Bolsonaro has to go into the runoff election - but other members of the Bolsonaro family have already achieved electoral success: Former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro was elected to the Senate in the federal district of Brasília. Carlos Bolsonaro, another son of the former president, also won a Senate seat - in the southern state of Santa Catarina.

The President of the Supreme Electoral Court TSE, Nunes Marques, said at a press conference that intelligence reports had so far shown no concrete evidence of foreign influence in the election. He made the comments when asked after the US closed its consular services in the South American country on Friday for security reasons.