Brazil votes in a knife-edge runoff between Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro, who has vowed to free his jailed father
Flávio Bolsonaro, who vowed to free his father Jair from a 27-year sentence if he wins today's runoff, trails President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by no margin in final polling.Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving his sentence under house arrest, lost to Lula da Silva in 2022 — no candidate trailing after a Brazilian first round has ever won a runoff.
Final polls show the two candidates level after Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, took 47 per cent to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's 45 in the first round on 4 October. Jair Bolsonaro, confined to house arrest while serving a 27-year sentence for his role in a coup plot following his 2022 defeat, cast a long shadow over the contest. Flavio cast his ballot in Rio de Janeiro and called for 'real change'. Lula, 80, has accused his opponent of wanting to 'govern with the American flag'.
This election represents Lula's final campaign — a bid for a fourth non-consecutive term.
In Brazilian history, no runoff has ever been won by the candidate who finished second in the first round.
Despite voting being compulsory, more than 33 million of nearly 160 million registered voters sat out round one.
