Brazil holds historic election with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against Jair Bolsonaro

Polls have former president Lula leading ex-army captain Bolsonaro with 50 per cent of valid votes to 36 per cent, according to the Datafolha institute

Brazil’s 156 million voters will also be electing the lower house of Congress, one-third of the Senate and governors and legislators in all 27 states

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Brazil votes on Sunday in a polarising presidential election, with all eyes on whether front-runner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) can win in a single round – and whether incumbent Jair Bolsonaro will accept the result. Photo: AFP/File

Published: 3:51pm, 2 Oct 2022Updated: 3:53pm, 2 Oct 2022

Brazil votes on Sunday in a polarising presidential election, with all eyes on whether front-runner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva can win in a single round – and whether incumbent Jair Bolsonaro will accept the result.

The campaign, which left the Latin American giant deeply divided, ended with former president Lula (2003-2010) leading ex-army captain Bolsonaro with 50 per cent of valid votes to 36 per cent, according to a final poll from the Datafolha institute released Saturday evening.

The figures put Lula on the cusp of the score needed to win outright and avoid a run-off on October 30: half the valid votes, plus one.

But Bolsonaro, known for his combative style, has repeatedly said “only God” can remove him from office, attacked supposed fraud in Brazil’s electronic voting system, and vowed his re-election bid can have just three outcomes: “prison, death or victory.”

Lula, the charismatic but tarnished ex-president seeking to stage a comeback at 76, says he fears the incumbent will create “turmoil” if he loses – a concern heard often in Brazil heading into election day.