Brazil first round: Flávio Bolsonaro leads Lula, runoff all but certain

Brazilians voted Sunday in the first round of a high-stakes presidential election, with Senator Flávio Bolsonaro — the 45-year-old son of former president Jair Bolsonaro — leading President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 80, as results came in. With about 90% of votes counted, Bolsonaro held 48.0% to Lula's 44.0%; southern states that lean toward Bolsonaro reported faster, with Lula's northeastern stronghold tallying slower.

If no candidate tops 50% of valid votes, the top two face off in a runoff on October 25 — now all but certain. Pre-election polls had the race neck and neck, with Datafolha putting Lula at 42% and Bolsonaro at 38% on Thursday. A Bolsonaro victory would extend a wave of right-wing wins across Latin America; Lula's re-election would complicate Washington, which has clashed with his government over trade and security.

Sources: Reuters via Devdiscourse, Le Monde