Brazil extends presidential runoff voting by two hours nationwide, NHK reports
In short
Voting in Brazil's October 25 presidential runoff was extended by two hours nationwide, NHK reported. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faces Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in a contest that pre-election polls suggested would be close.
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Voting in Brazil's presidential runoff was extended by two hours nationwide, NHK reported in its October 26 update at 06:29 Japan time. The contest, which began on October 25 in Brazil, pits left-wing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. NHK said voting was still underway. [ 10 , 13 ]
Pre-election coverage described a close contest. Sankei reported that a poll published on October 24 put Bolsonaro at 48% and Lula at 47%. Yomiuri said an earlier Datafolha polling gap had narrowed from four percentage points on October 8 to one point on October 22. Lula is seeking a fourth presidential term overall. [ 3 , 6 ]
In the October 4 first round, Bolsonaro won 47.03% and Lula 45.16%, according to election authority figures cited by Yomiuri. Neither reached the majority of valid votes needed to win outright. Bolsonaro secured support from five candidates eliminated in that round, the newspaper reported. [ 3 ]
Inflation and public security featured in the candidates' final television debate on October 23. Coverage carried by Yahoo Japan from Jiji said Bolsonaro blamed Lula's expansionary fiscal policy for inflation, while Lula highlighted increases in the minimum wage and argued that economic growth would reduce public debt. Bolsonaro advocated spending cuts and deregulation, while Lula emphasized social welfare and government-led infrastructure investment. [ 5 ]
Relations with Washington were another dividing line. Jiji reported that Bolsonaro was close to the Trump administration and had proposed cooperation with the United States against drug organizations. Yomiuri reported that Lula opposed Trump's involvement and pledged to defend Brazil himself. The latest supplied NHK report gave no election outcome or reason for the voting extension. [ 3 , 8 , 13 ]
Why it matters
The candidates have presented different approaches to inflation, public security and relations with the United States. Lula is seeking a fourth term overall, while Bolsonaro has advocated closer cooperation with the Trump administration.
Key facts
- NHK reported a nationwide two-hour extension of voting in the presidential runoff. [ 13 ]
- The runoff pits incumbent Lula against Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. [ 8 , 10 , 13 ]
- Yomiuri reported first-round vote shares of 47.03% for Bolsonaro and 45.16% for Lula. [ 3 ]
- A poll published October 24 put Bolsonaro at 48% and Lula at 47%, according to Sankei. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The election result. The latest supplied NHK update says voting was still underway and provides no result.
- The reason for extending voting. NHK's supplied headline and summary do not explain the extension.