Bolsonaro's son heads to runoff with Lula in Brazil's polarised election
Flávio Bolsonaro will face President Lula in a runoff. He did better than expected in Brazil's first round of voting.
Brazil's far-right movement seemed finished. Former president Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a coup attempt.
He began serving a 27-year sentence. But in early October elections, his family staged a stunning comeback.
His wife, two sons, and a brother all won congressional seats. Flávio Bolsonaro is the eldest son.
He will contest a runoff against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Flávio pitches himself as a moderate alternative to his father.
He carries his own corruption allegations. Brazil is deeply divided.
Lula's supporters fear the Bolsonaro family's connection to the coup attempt. Bolsonaro's supporters remember Lula's jail time and his party's corruption conviction.
About 8 per cent of those who cast votes for eliminated candidates in the first round remain available. If Flávio wins, Brazil will join a wave of Latin American countries moving right since Donald Trump returned to office.
- 27 years
- Jair Bolsonaro's sentence
- October 4
- Election date
- approximately 8 percent
- Swing votes available
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
- Opponent
Why it mattersThe outcome will shape Brazil's foreign policy. It will decide whether Brazil aligns more closely with the US or deepens ties with China.
AustraliaBrazil is a major trade partner for Australian agricultural exports. A political shift toward the US could reshape Brazil's relationship with China, affecting global trade patterns and Australia's regional standing.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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