Flavio Bolsonaro has closed out the first round ahead of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, though Brazil’s presidency remains undecided. With 99.99% of polling stations counted, the Liberal Party candidate secured 47.03% of valid votes, against 45.16% for the outgoing president — a margin of roughly 2.2 million votes. The two will face off in a runoff on October 25.
In the coming weeks, the backing of eliminated candidates and the ability to mobilize voters who stayed home will prove decisive. Bolsonaro starts with the advantage secured at the ballot box, while Lula will need to close the gap to secure re-election.
The outcome comes alongside gains for the conservative camp in Parliament. The Liberal Party has emerged as the leading force in the Senate with 28 seats, strengthening its hand in the dealings between government and opposition in the next legislature.
