BRASILIA — Polls opened across Brazil on Sunday as more than 150 million registered voters prepared to cast their ballots in a closely contested presidential runoff between incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and conservative Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.
Voting began at 8 a.m. local time, with the election entering its final stage amid a statistical dead heat between the two candidates.
Lula, 80, of the Workers’ Party, is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive presidential term against Bolsonaro, 45, the eldest son and political heir of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The runoff follows a competitive first-round election on October 4, when Flavio Bolsonaro secured 47% of valid votes against Lula’s 45%, leaving neither candidate with the majority required for an outright victory.
A final Datafolha opinion poll showed the two candidates tied at 50% of valid votes, underscoring the closely divided electorate.
The election campaign has been dominated by concerns over the rising cost of living, public insecurity and persistent corruption, issues that have shaped political debate across the country.
Lula previously governed Brazil from 2003 to 2010 before returning to power after defeating Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 presidential election by fewer than two percentage points.
That contest produced the narrowest presidential victory margin in Brazil’s modern history.
Flavio Bolsonaro entered the presidential race after his father was barred from holding public office and sentenced to 27 years in prison following investigations into an alleged plot to overturn the results of the 2022 election through a military coup.
The former president’s political movement continues to maintain a significant electoral presence, with his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, securing a seat in the Federal Senate during the first round of voting.
The presidential contest is also being closely watched for its potential implications for Brazil’s foreign policy and relations with the United States, where President Donald Trump’s administration has maintained ties with conservative political movements across Latin America.
Voting is taking place electronically across Brazil’s 26 states and the Federal District.
Polling stations are scheduled to close at 5 p.m. Brasilia time, with preliminary results expected shortly afterward.
Source: Saudi Gazette