Flávio Bolsonaro leads presidential election in Brazil

Flávio Bolsonaro finished the first round of the Brazilian presidential election ahead of incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro received 47.03 percent of the valid votes, totaling 56.1 million preferences, while Lula da Silva received 45.16 percent. Because neither candidate reached the 50 percent threshold required for an outright victory, the two will face each other in a runoff scheduled for October 25.

The election results also shifted the balance of power in the legislature toward conservative forces. The Partito liberale (Pl) increased its number of senators from 15 to 28 and grew its number of deputies from 98 to 121. According to Tempi, these results mean that regardless of the runoff outcome, the political center of gravity in Brazil has moved to the right.