Symbolic imageBolsonaro tops Lula in first round, setting up Brazil runoff
Right-wing senator Flávio Bolsonaro won the first round of Brazil's presidential election on Sunday with about 47% to President Lula's 45%. The two meet in a runoff on 25 October.
Flávio Bolsonaro took 47.03% to Lula's 45.16% in the vote on Sunday, 4 October, according to Le Monde and the Guardian, short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Polls had given Lula a slim lead. Bolsonaro said it marked the end of the Workers' Party era, while Lula called the result unexpected and announced a new campaign. Political scientist Oliver Stuenkel calls Bolsonaro the clear favourite because the eliminated candidates were mostly conservative. Handelsblatt notes that the first-round leader has won all seven runoffs since 1989.
Bolsonaro bloc strong in Congress
The Liberal Party became the largest Senate caucus with 28 of 81 seats, the Guardian reports, and Michelle and Carlos Bolsonaro won seats. Flávio Bolsonaro has promised an amnesty for his father Jair, jailed for 27 years over a coup plot.
Trump welcomes result
On Monday, Donald Trump called it "a big victory: close but a very, very big victory" and predicted a close runoff.
Markets rally
The Brazilian real and stocks surged on Bolsonaro's lead.