Flávio Bolsonaro wins Brazil’s first presidential election round

Flávio Bolsonaro defeated President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil’s first presidential election round. Neither candidate secured an outright majority, so the election will go to a runoff later this month.

Bolsonaro received 56.1 million votes, compared with 53.8 million for Lula. The result surprised observers because pre-election polls had shown the two candidates statistically tied.

The 45-year-old Bolsonaro had never previously run for president. He is the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, while the 80-year-old Lula represents the Workers’ Party.

Voter dissatisfaction with Lula

Bolsonaro’s result may have reflected rejection of Lula as much as support for the younger candidate. Datafolha said both candidates had a 45% rejection rate shortly before the election; another poll found that 49% disapproved of Lula’s government and 48% approved.

At the same time, official unemployment stood at about 5.3%, its lowest level on record, while average income was at its highest since records began. Lula raised Bolsa Família payments by 15% and banned online gambling, which had been legal since 2018.

Bolsonaro’s Supreme Court campaign

Bolsonaro made criticism of the Supreme Court a major part of his campaign, echoing his father’s approach. He condemned Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction in the 2023 attempted-coup case; the former president received a 27-year sentence in 2025.

The candidate also used the controversy surrounding banker Daniel Vorcaro, arrested in March over alleged large-scale financial fraud. Police suggested Vorcaro had contacted Justice Alexandre de Moraes for help avoiding arrest; Moraes denies wrongdoing.

Liberal Party expands Senate bloc

The Liberal Party, led by the Bolsonaro family, increased its Senate representation from 15 seats to 28. Former president Bolsonaro’s wife, Michelle, and his son Carlos were also elected to the Senate.

Lula now faces the task of overturning the first-round deficit. Folha de S Paulo analyst Dora Kramer said both candidates would need to focus on independent voters; no candidate who trailed after Brazil’s first round had previously won the runoff.