Bolsonaro surges past Lula, setting up bitter Brazil election runoff

Flávio Bolsonaro has finished ahead of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election, sending the contest to an October 25 runoff.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Bolsonaro secured 47.3% of the vote, compared with Lula’s 44.8%, with 98% of ballots counted late Sunday.

Neither candidate crossed the 50% threshold required to win outright.

Bolsonaro, 45, is a senator and the eldest son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro. Other right-wing presidential candidates collectively secured about 5% of the vote.

The outcome sets up a closely watched runoff between Bolsonaro and Lula, 80, who is seeking another term as president.

The first-round results differed from final pre-election polling. The Journal reported that Datafolha had placed Lula at 45% and Bolsonaro at 42% on the eve of voting.

Conservative candidates also recorded significant gains in congressional and state elections held alongside the presidential vote.