Millions of Brazilians went out to vote for the next president, with frontrunners Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Bolsonaro's son both hoping to secure victory in the first round.
On Sunday, 4 Oct 2026 GMT+7, nearly 159 million eligible Brazilian voters cast ballots in the presidential election contested between incumbent 80-year-old President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and 45-year-old Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
If none of the 12 candidates receives more than 50% of the vote in the first round, a runoff will be held between the top two candidates on 25 October.
However, it appears the presidential election contest is effectively between just two candidates: current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison for attempting a coup after losing to Lula in the 2022 election.
Regarding campaign stances, Lula da Silva promotes social welfare programs for low-income citizens, such as Bolsa Família, and is keen on defending national sovereignty. His popularity rose partly due to opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Brazilian goods and sanctions against the Supreme Court justice.
Nonetheless, after nearly a full term in office, his approval has declined due to rising living costs, economic challenges, and corruption cases linked to a prominent judge.
Flávio Bolsonaro enjoys support from right-wing political groups and his father's old power base. He emphasizes a strong alliance with Trump and advocates harsh measures against crime, proposing to classify criminal groups as terrorist organizations. He also promises to find a way to free his father to return to politics.
In addition to the presidential election, voters also elected governors for all 27 states, 513 members of the House of Representatives, and 54 of the 81 senators on Sunday.
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Source:apnews