Flávio Bolsonaro poised to win Brazilian presidency after shock first-round victory

The Guardian Brazil · 2026-10-05T20:06:18.000Z · Politics

Progressive voters and supporters of incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva left reeling after far-right surge Flávio Bolsonaro is in pole position to win Brazil’s presidential election, after a far-right tsunami propelled him to a shock first-round victory over the incumbent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, leaving progressive voters reeling. The 45-year-old rightwing candidate received 56.1m votes to Lula’s 53.8m – 47.03% to 45.16% – meaning the 80-year-old leftwinger has a mountain to climb if he is to bounce back in the second round on 25 October. Never, since the return of democracy to Brazil in 1985, has the first-round runner-up managed to turn the game around and win the second ballot. Continue reading...

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