Flávio Bolsonaro secured a first-round lead in Brazil’s presidential election, leaving President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva just three weeks to rally voters and halt a broader rightward shift across Brazil and Latin America. Sunday’s vote delivered a surprise victory for the right-wing populist, who is embroiled in scandal, while dealing a crushing blow to a leftist party that critics argue has grown out of touch with its core base. Although Flávio Bolsonaro did not secure an outright majority to win the presidency outright on Sunday night, his performance positioned him strongly for the runoff. His robust showing provides a vital momentum boost to the ascendant right wing in Latin America. As the region’s most populous country, Brazil represents a major electoral prize following a series of electoral victories by conservative candidates. This outcome also marks a striking political resurgence for the Bolsonaro family, arriving four years after former President Jair Bolsonaro attempted to subvert democracy following a previous election defeat, an action that led to his conviction and prison sentence for plotting a coup. Despite facing his own corruption controversies, Flávio Bolsonaro managed to capture more votes than the leftist incumbent, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Neither candidate crossed the threshold required to claim a first-round victory, setting the stage for a decisive two-way showdown scheduled for October 25.
Source: nytimes.com
