Polls close in Brazil as Lula and Bolsonaro remain neck and neck
Flávio Bolsonaro leads the first round of Brazil's presidential election against incumbent Lula da Silva, with a run-off scheduled for October 25. The election has polarized the nation, with voters focused on issues of sovereignty, crime, and the economy.
Why it matters
The outcome will determine the political direction of Latin America's largest economy and its alignment with global powers.
Figure caption, Watch: How Brazil's dramatic election unfolded
Right-wing Flávio Bolsonaro has won the first round of Brazil's presidential election, beating left-wing President Lula da Silva, but falling short of an outright majority.
There will be a run-off between the two candidates on 25 October.
Bolsonaro 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.
Sunday's vote was close, with President Lula polling slightly ahead during the campaign. With almost all of the votes counted, Bolsonaro has 47% to Lula's 45% of the vote.
Bolsonaro's result exceeded expectations, meaning the second round now looks like his to lose, given some of the other candidates knocked out in the first round were right-wing alternatives.
Also covering this story
10 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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