Bolsonaro beats expectations in Brazil presidential vote, will face Lula in runoff
EWZ•Senator Flavio Bolsonaro won 47% of the vote to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s 45%, setting up an October 25 runoff. Pre-election polls had shown Lula leading by about 3 percentage points.
1. Runoff vote set
Right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in an October 25 runoff after leading the first round with 47% of votes to Lula’s 45%. Private surveys had forecast Lula leading by around 3 percentage points.
2. Candidates respond
“Brazil wants change and I am very happy with the results,” Bolsonaro told reporters. Lula said he had been convinced he would win in the first round and vowed to begin a new campaign.
3. Economic pressures
The campaign focused on the cost of living, corruption and insecurity, while policy debate was limited. Public debt is above 82% of GDP, and the government lowered its growth forecasts to 2.0% this year and 2.3% next year.
