Presidential elections in Brazil: Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro compete in the first round

The polls have closed in Brazil and now we only have to wait for the official results. This Sunday, the main economy of Latin America held a very close first presidential round, according to all the polls, between the leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is fighting for his fourth non-consecutive term, and the far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the first-born of former president Jair Messias. “Brazil needs a change, Brazil can't take it anymore,” said Bolsonaro when voting early in Rio de Janeiro. Lula, for his part, voted minutes later at a school in São Bernardo do Campo, in the industrial belt of São Paulo where he was born into political life. "We'll see what kind of Brazil the people chose. I'm very confident," the president said.

In addition to the presidential vote, the almost 159 million voters are also called to elect governors, two senators per state, the 513 federal deputies and the deputies of the state assemblies.

The polls closed at 5:00 p.m., Brasilia time (10:00 p.m., Spanish peninsular time; 2:00 p.m., Mexico City time). Voting is mandatory and, thanks to the electronic system, the result is usually known within a few hours. If no candidate obtains 50% plus one vote, there will be a second round on October 25.

Veronica M. Garrido

Polls close in Brazil and vote counting begins

At 5:00 p.m. this Sunday, Brazil has closed the polls in a very close election between President Lula and right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro. The day has been marked by an alleged interference by the United States that raised the alerts of the Brazilian police, as revealed by its director, Andrei Rodrigues. Later, however, the president of Brazil's Superior Electoral Court, Kassio Nunes Marques, dismissed the accusation by denying any foreign interference in the elections. The Federal Police has, on the other hand, detained 129 people on suspicion of electoral crimes and has seized 383,600 reais in cash ($73,000).

The candidates voted early in the morning. Lula did it in São Paulo, while his opponent did it in Rio de Janeiro. Nearly 159 million Brazilians have been called to elect governors, two senators per state, 513 federal deputies and deputies to state assemblies. The electronic voting system will allow the result to be known in a few hours.

Mar CenteneraSão Paulo (BRAZIL)

The electronic ballot boxes have batteries with 10 hours of autonomy

The Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo has reported that the storms that fell during election day have left 33 areas of this state, the most populated in Brazil, with 34 million eligible voters without power. The court has clarified that the lack of electricity supply does not pose a risk to the voting in progress, since the electronic ballot boxes used work with a battery that has an autonomy of up to ten hours and also have backup batteries.

The power outages have been temporary in most of the affected areas and at four in the afternoon only the city of Alvares Machado, in the interior of the state of São Paulo, remained in darkness.

Heavy rains have complicated access to polling places in some municipalities and may have an impact on participation. Although voting is mandatory for all Brazilians between 18 and 70 years old, the penalty for not going to the polls is just over three reais, that is, less than one dollar.

Mar CenteneraSão Paulo (BRAZIL)

The Federal Police detains 129 people for suspicion of electoral crimes in Brazil

The Brazilian Federal Police has detained 129 people on suspicion of electoral crimes until three in the afternoon, according to the partial police report published by the newspaper Folha de São Paulo. In the police operations, 383,600 reais in cash (73,000 dollars) and goods with a value equivalent to 80,000 dollars more have also been seized.

Until then, six investigations and 18 simplified procedures for possible violations had been opened. Among the main irregularities detected are cases of illegal electoral propaganda and electoral corruption, especially suspicions of vote buying.

Police actions have been carried out in the Federal District and in 21 States, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.

The Country

The Electoral Court rules out external interference in the elections

The president of the Superior Electoral Court of Brazil, Kassio Nunes Marques, ruled out foreign interference in the elections that take place this Sunday. The magistrate's statement came after the Federal Police admitted opening an investigation into alleged US interference.

Naiara Galarraga Gortázar