Brazil’s Presidential Election: First Round Surprises and Plans for the Runoff

In a surprising twist during Brazil’s recent presidential election, conservative Senator Flavio Bolsonaro emerged victorious in the first round against incumbent socialist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This election, held on Sunday, featured a significant turnout of nearly 79 percent among the country’s over 158.7 million voters. Bolsonaro secured 47.03 percent of the votes, while Lula received 45.16 percent. Since neither candidate achieved the necessary 50 percent majority, they will face off again in a runoff scheduled for October 25.

Bolsonaro, who is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and represents the Liberal Party (PL), expressed his gratitude to reporters after the results. He heralded the moment as “the end of the era” for Lula’s far-left Workers’ Party, committing to work alongside other elected PL representatives to ensure a win in the upcoming runoff.

“I was really pleased by the turnout; so many Brazilians made their voices heard. It’s time for change in the country,” he reflected, adding that nearly 56 million Brazilians had placed their trust in him for a new direction.

Interestingly, internal polling from the PL suggested that Bolsonaro might have actually crossed the 50 percent mark during early results, although this changed as votes from Lula’s strongholds were eventually counted. It seems, perhaps, that the forecasts leading up to the election may not have fully captured the public sentiment.

After the election, Bolsonaro took to social media to express his thanks, emphasizing that Brazil spoke for change not just in the presidency but across the Senate and Chamber of Deputies as well, where the PL performed impressively.

“We achieved a significant majority in Congress that I believe will help restore the legal security needed for the country’s growth,” he stated, seemingly optimistic about forming alliances going forward.

Meanwhile, President Lula addressed his supporters alongside Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, stating that he believed he could win the election in the first round, but is “good at knockout matches.” He plans to take a breather on Monday but vowed to restart his campaign on Tuesday with renewed vigor, emphasizing that it is now a contest between just two candidates.

“We will clarify the differences between our proposals for Brazil,” he noted, while also highlighting concerns about Bolsonaro’s past associations, indicating a sense of urgency in his message.

In a reflection of the election’s outcome, Lula acknowledged that this marked his weakest first-round performance since 1998. He and his team, however, remained resolute, believing they could draw on past experiences to navigate the challenges ahead in the runoff.

Lula also noted that he received 3.4 million votes less than in the 2022 first round, pointing to losses in important states like Minas Gerais, which has historically favored winning presidential candidates.

As of now, Lula, at 80 years old, has had a long and tumultuous political career, attempting the presidency seven times, securing his first victory in 2002. His previous conviction for corruption was overturned, enabling him to run again in 2022 and narrowly defeat Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio’s father. This current campaign marks his attempt for a fourth presidential term.