Brazil’s presidential election will be decided in the second round. At the end of the first round of voting, on Sunday October 2, former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as “Lula”, was ahead of far-right head of state Jair Bolsonaro. 48.40% votes against 43.22% According to the results published by the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE). 99.90% votes counted.

About 6 million votes separated the two, with more than 57 million votes counted in favor of Lula. But since the two candidates did not reach an absolute majority, they will be decided in the second round on Sunday, October 30.

About 156 million Brazilians are called to vote in this first round to choose their president for the next four years. Centrist Simone Tebbet came in third with 4.16% of the vote. Labor Ciro Gomez is 3.05%. All other candidates are close to or below the 0.50% mark. The participation rate in this first round was 79%.

“The fight will continue until final victory”On Sunday evening, Lula, who admitted he would win the first round, appeared touched after the results were announced. “It’s just overtime. We will win this election.”He predicted and promised with a sports formula “More trips, other meetings” To see the Brazilians win for the third time.

“A Surprise”

Among the eleven contenders for the top post, Lula was the favourite. On Saturday evening, the latest Datafolha poll showed the Workers’ Party (PT) candidate with 50% of the vote, leading the Liberal Party’s Jair Bolsonaro to 36%.

Lula spent 580 days in prison Spread corruption Made a strong comeback in 2018 and 2019 After his convictions were overturned In 2021. He is campaigning at the age of 76 “Reconstruction” In a very divided country, hunger relief is promised, as well as the fight for environmental protection.

Jair Bolsonaro said, in the evening, there will be “Overcome the Lies” Polls, optimistic about second round. Brazilians have punished the far-right president less than expected for his denial of covid-19, an economic crisis (685,000 deaths) in a country where more than 30 million people are starving, and crises that have undermined his entire mandate. . By October 30, the populist leader will have an opportunity to strengthen his army on the streets and find new momentum.

“It is surprising that Bolsonaro won more votes than expected, especially in the two most important states of the country, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.”Paulo Calmon, a political scientist at the University of Brasilia, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). “In the second round, the presidential race remains wide open and promises to be hotly contested. Bolsonaro has every chance of being re-elected.He adds.

In addition, several Bolsonarian candidates, including former government ministers, have been elected to Congress. The highly controversial Ricardo Salles, who is suspected of having participated in a network of timber smuggling from Amazonia while Minister of the Environment, won a seat as a deputy, for example. Claudio Castro, an ally of the head of state in Rio de Janeiro, was re-elected governor in the first round.

At the headquarters of the Workers’ Party – a hotel in São Paulo (southeast) – tension was palpable on Sunday evening, while the results were scattered. At the beginning of the count, Jair Bolsonaro was more than five points ahead of Lula, but the gap gradually narrowed.

“Reliability and Transparency” of the Ballot

Post-election fears persisted if Lula won Sunday’s first round. His opponent threatened not to recognize the result in the event of a defeat, targeting the electoral system, before showing some signs of appeasement as the polls drew closer.

TSE President Alexandre de Moraes assured that the vote was taking place ” no problem “And caught “Reaffirm Credibility and Transparency” Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly criticized the electronic ballot box system. More than 500,000 members of the security forces were mobilized to provide security for the ballot, which was held in the presence of dozens of foreign observers.