Flávio Bolsonaro leads in early vote count in Brazil — Deutsche Welle

In Brazil, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has taken the lead during the early vote count in the presidential election. With 10% of ballots processed, he had 51% of the vote, while incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had 40.8%, Deutsche Welle reports, citing electoral court data.

Preliminary results

Polling stations closed on Sunday. The country uses electronic voting machines, so final results are expected within several hours after voting ends.

80-year-old Lula is seeking a fourth, though non-consecutive, presidential term. He ended his campaign with a tour of the city of São Paulo, and organizers said that around 150,000 people attended a rally in his support. While voting, Lula said that voters had to choose between strengthening democracy and barbarism, as well as between progress and backwardness.

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Bolsonaro's campaign

45-year-old Flávio Bolsonaro has represented the Liberal Party in the Senate for the state of Rio de Janeiro since 2019. On the eve of the vote, he held a motorcycle convoy through the cities of Santa Bárbara d'Oeste and Americana in the state of São Paulo, holding a portrait of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

The former president's son advocated tough security measures and tax cuts, criticizing Lula over the high cost of living. He also said that if elected, he would pardon his father. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence for an attempted coup after his defeat in the 2022 election.

Before the first round, a Quaest poll gave Lula 46% support and Flávio Bolsonaro 45%. In the event of a second round, according to the poll, Bolsonaro had 44% and Lula 42%.