What to know about Brazil’s election pitting Lula against Flávio Bolsonaro
Brazil’s presidential election centres on a rematch between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, whose father Jair lost to Lula in 2022. The contest matters because the fallout from that election, including Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction for plotting a coup, continues to shape Brazil’s politics.
Twelve candidates are running, but polls put Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro at about 40% each, with Lula slightly ahead; the other candidates are at 4% or less. If no one wins more than half of valid votes on 4 October, the leading two will face a run-off on 25 October. Nearly 160 million people are eligible to vote, and about 9% were undecided or considering not casting a valid vote in late September.
- Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro lead Brazil’s presidential race.
- Polls put both near 40%, with Lula slightly ahead.
- A run-off is likely on 25 October.
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Brazil is holding a presidential election between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his main challenger Flávio Bolsonaro. Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of Jair Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil's president before losing to Lula in 2022. The two leading candidates are polling nearly equally, with Lula holding a slight edge.
The election matters because tensions from Brazil's 2022 presidential contest remain central to the country's politics. Jair Bolsonaro has been convicted of plotting a coup to overturn his election loss, creating divisions that persist today. The outcome will influence how Brazil addresses these political tensions.