Brazil heads to a runoff presidential vote after Bolsonaro and Lula fail to acquire outright majority needed

Flávio Bolsonaro, a Brazilian Senator and ally of US President Donald Trump, and Brazil’s incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will face off in a runoff on the 25th of October 5 for the top job of Latin America’s powerhouse economy after neither won a majority in Sunday's presidential vote.

The country’s electoral court in the capital Brasilia said neither the 80-year-old incumbent, seeking his fourth non-consecutive term, nor the 45-year-old son to embattled former President Jair Bolsonaro garnered the majority vote needed for an outright win.

The court had Bolsonaro with just over 56 million votes while Brazilian political veteran Lula sat at around 53.7 million. The data was announced after local election officials reported 99.8% of the votes counted for the country’s next presidential term, set to begin 5 January.

The winner will be in charge of South America’s biggest economy and a population of 214 million. A win for Bolsonaro would increase US influence in the country, while a win for Lula would likely continue to distance Brasilia from Washington and instead deepen its ties with China.

Flávio Bolsonaro addressed the press and a small group of supporters, including some wearing green and yellow Brazil jerseys and one woman wrapped in the Israeli flag, outside his Brasilia house.