Lula votes in Brazil general election as Bolsonaro's son mounts challenge
In short
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio da Silva voted on 4 October in the country's general election, TASS reported, saying he appeared at a polling station in a straw hat. Vedomosti, citing Reuters, said 13 candidates are running and that da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, are leading the race. Flávio Bolsonaro said he was confident of winning the first round; US President Donald Trump has not formally endorsed any candidate but hosted him at the White House, according to Vedomosti.
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Brazil's President Luiz Inácio da Silva voted on 4 October in the country's presidential election, TASS and Vedomosti reported. TASS said the incumbent appeared at a polling station wearing a straw hat. Vedomosti, citing Reuters, quoted him as saying “Brazil's future is at stake”. [ 1 , 2 ]
Thirteen candidates are contesting the presidency, Vedomosti reported. According to Reuters, as cited by Vedomosti, the incumbent and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro are leading the race. Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, said he was confident of victory in the first round, the newspaper reported. Jair Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest, according to Vedomosti. [ 2 ]
The campaign has a US dimension in Vedomosti's account. US President Donald Trump formally did not support any of the candidates, the newspaper wrote, but he received Flávio Bolsonaro at the White House and publicly praised him. Flávio Bolsonaro promises closer ties with the United States and Israel and has welcomed the Trump administration's decision to designate major Brazilian criminal groups as terrorist organisations, Vedomosti reported. [ 2 ]
The vote is a general election, not only a presidential contest. Vedomosti said citizens are electing a vice-president, governors, members of the National Congress and local parliaments on 4 October. Neither document reports any results or partial counts, and Vedomosti's description of the race is attributed to Reuters. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
Brazil's election decides the presidency along with the vice-presidency, governorships and seats in the National Congress and local parliaments, so the result shapes the country's government well beyond the top of the ticket. The documents also present the vote as a test of Brazil's foreign alignment, with one leading candidate promising closer ties to the United States and Israel while the incumbent campaigns on the country's future.
Key facts
- Brazil held general elections on 4 October, with 13 candidates contesting the presidency. [ 2 ]
- President Luiz Inácio da Silva voted; TASS said he appeared at a polling station wearing a straw hat. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Vedomosti, citing Reuters, said da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro are leading the race. [ 2 ]
- Flávio Bolsonaro said he was confident of victory in the first round. [ 2 ]
- US President Donald Trump formally did not endorse any candidate but received Flávio Bolsonaro at the White House and publicly praised him, according to Vedomosti. [ 2 ]
- Voters also elect a vice-president, governors, members of the National Congress and local parliaments. [ 2 ]
- Former president Jair Bolsonaro, Flávio Bolsonaro's father, is under house arrest, Vedomosti reported. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Which candidate is ahead and by how much. Vedomosti attributes the description of the race to Reuters as a single source and reports no figures or partial results; TASS does not mention the state of the race.
- Where da Silva cast his ballot. Neither document names the city or polling station, so the location of the event is unknown.
- Whether US President Donald Trump's reception of Flávio Bolsonaro amounts to support. Vedomosti states that Trump formally did not back any candidate while also receiving and publicly praising him, leaving the intent unstated.