Brazil heads to October 25 runoff as Flávio Bolsonaro edges Lula in first round

Brasília, October 5 — Brazil's presidential election will go to a runoff on October 25 after neither candidate won an outright majority in Sunday's first round, election authorities said. With more than 97% of votes counted, right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro — the 45-year-old eldest son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro — led with 47.45% of valid votes against 44.66% for leftist incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 80, of the Workers' Party, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term. Bolsonaro's showing was stronger than final polls had projected; Lula conceded he had expected a first-round win. Around 160 million voters were registered; the next presidential term begins January 5, 2027.

Source: ANI via Devdiscourse (citing Al Jazeera/election authorities), October 5, 2026. https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/3986818-brazil-heads-to-runoff-as-bolsonaro-lula-fall-short-of-first-round-majority-in-presidential-race