Sao Paulo: Brazilians began voting on Sunday in a high-stakes presidential election pitting incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against Trump ally Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, ideological opposites who are each seen as having a shot at an outright victory.
Almost 159 million Brazilians are eligible to vote in this tense political showdown. Polling stations opened on Sunday at 8 am Brasilia time (11:00 GMT) for the first round of Brazil's 2026 General Elections. First results are expected shortly after polls close at 5 pm local time (20:00 GMT).
Bolsonaro, 45, is the son of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro and an ally of US President Donald Trump. Lula, who, at 80, is one of the world's oldest heads of state, is running in his seventh presidential election and has strengthened Brazil's ties with Beijing.
A series of polls on Saturday showed Lula da Silva slightly ahead of Bolsonaro before Sunday's first-round vote, and a close race in a likely runoff between the leftist incumbent and his right-wing challenger.
A victory for the senator would extend a wave of wins across Latin America by right-wing candidates aligned with Trump whereas Lula's reelection could create a headache for Washington, which has clashed with his government over trade and security.
Trump allies have found support in recent years in some Latin American countries, including Argentina, Colombia and Peru.
If no candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the vote, the top two vote-getters will head to a runoff on October 25 in Latin America's economic powerhouse. Ten other candidates are expected to garner much smaller numbers of votes on Sunday.
Differing approaches to Trump
Where Bolsonaro has leaned into his ideological alliance with Trump, Lula has criticised Washington.
The incumbent president has often spoken about risks of US intervention in the Brazilian elections after the Trump administration imposed high tariffs against Brazilian exports, revoked the visa of the country's ambassador in Washington and sanctioned a Supreme Court justice who chaired the investigation that ended up resulting in the sentencing of Jair Bolsonaro, Lula's predecessor.
Flávio Bolsonaro has touted his proximity to the White House, although he denies his campaign received help from the US government. He has insisted that Brazil needs to strike better deals with the Trump administration, including the rare minerals economy. Brazil estimates that its deposits hold up to 21 million tons, second only to China. Bolsonaro has also campaigned on releasing his father from his 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup and bringing him back to politics.
“Brazil needs change. Brazil can't stand so much suffering,” he told reporters at the Rio de Janeiro voting centre, where he cast his vote Sunday.
Brazilians will also elect 27 state governors, members of state legislatures, all 513 federal members of the lower house of Congress and 54 of the country's 81 senators in Sunday's vote.
Bolsonaro votes in election
Brazilian presidential hopeful and senator Flavio Bolsonaro on Sunday arrived at a polling station in Rio de Janeiro to cast his vote.
Joined by wife Fernanda Bolsonaro, the senator was surrounded by media outside before walking into the building, registering his vote, and posing for photographers before leaving.
(With inpits from AP via PTI & Reuters)
