Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.
Bolsonaro's stronger-than-expected performance, at 47 per cent of votes versus Lula's 45 per cent, is expected to buoy his campaign and may bolster Brazil's currency and stock market, which have risen on the prospects of the business-friendly challenger.
“Brazil wants change and I am very happy with the results,” Bolsonaro told reporters in Brasilia after nearly all tallies were reported, heralding “the end of the era of (Lula's) Workers' Party.”
The senator, son of right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election, now heads to an October 25 showdown with the leftist Lula.
Brazilian authorities, meanwhile, have launched an investigation into allegations of foreign interference in the election, as millions of voters cast their ballots in the closely contested race.
Federal Police Director-General Andrei Rodrigues said an inquiry was underway following a request from the Attorney General's Office. The investigation centres on claims that foreign funding may have been used to influence political debate in Brazil and target key state institutions.
The request was reportedly prompted by allegations published by the British newspaper The Guardian. According to Brazilian authorities, the claims suggest that funds linked to the United States were directed to organisations and networks operating in Brazil. Prosecutors are seeking to determine whether those resources were used to influence the country's political environment or undermine confidence in its institutions.
Rodrigues said the case had been referred to the Federal Police's intelligence division for analysis while authorities continued efforts to safeguard the integrity of the 2026 electoral process.
The investigation unfolded as Brazilians cast ballots to elect a president, governors, senators and members of Congress.
Incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, voted in São Bernardo do Campo in São Paulo state. Speaking after casting his ballot, Lula expressed confidence in both voter turnout and his campaign's prospects.
Bolsonaro voted in Rio de Janeiro shortly after polling stations opened. He also voiced confidence in victory, saying he hoped to restore optimism among Brazilian families.
Polling stations opened across the country in the morning and remained operational throughout the day, with authorities reporting that voting was largely orderly.
Federal Police said dozens of individuals had been detained on suspicion of electoral offences, including vote-buying and violations of campaign rules.
Election officials also reported some technical issues involving electronic voting machines in several locations. In a number of cases, malfunctioning machines were replaced with backup equipment to minimise disruption to the voting process.
The Organization of American States' election observation mission said voting was proceeding under appropriate security conditions.
Iran shot down a U.S. drone over the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported on Sunday (25 November), citing the co...
At least five people were killed and several others injured in overnight attacks across Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, 25 October, as officials repo...
Protests against war and rising living costs took place in major Italian cities on Saturday, with some incidents o...
Israeli military bulldozers have begun demolishing buildings in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, 23 October, following armed clashes with Palestinians that left two Israeli soldiers dead, according to the Israeli military.
Around 11,000 people joined a demonstration in Orléans on Saturday against the National Rally congress, according to the local prefecture.
Typhoon Champi swept past Taiwan on Saturday, leaving one person dead and more than 500 injured as strong winds and torrential rain brought down trees, cut power and disrupted transport across the island.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday described a deadly shooting in the towns of Trappes and La Verrière, west of Paris, as a racist attack and ‘a turning point’ for the country.
Israeli forces have maintained a tight closure on Hebron in the occupied West Bank for a second day, with Palestinian media reporting home raids, mass detentions and dozens of residents forced outside following a shooting incident the day before.
At least five people were killed and several others injured in overnight attacks across Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, 25 October, as officials reported strikes on residential areas and industrial facilities, while Moscow claimed to have targeted logistics infrastructure and a cargo vessel.
Protests against war and rising living costs took place in major Italian cities on Saturday, with some incidents of violence and clashes, a week after unrest erupted across the country.
Bulgarians are voting in a presidential election on Sunday as deadly drone attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea raise security concerns and expose divisions over the country's response to Russia's war in Ukraine.
Serbia is voting on Sunday as a mass student protest movement seeks to unseat long-time populist leader Aleksandar Vučić in the biggest challenge to his rule for more than a decade.
Portuguese police cleared a housing protest camp in Lisbon on Sunday (25 October), as new figures reveal house prices have risen 16.5 per cent in a year, the fastest increase in the European Union.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment