Trump ally battles Lula for Brazil’s Presidency as votes are counted

Ervin Shkulaku/DUANEWS

Brazil is counting votes in a closely watched presidential election that could have major consequences not only for Latin America’s largest country, but also for its relationship with President Donald Trump and the United States.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is seeking another term in office, facing his main right-wing challenger, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Polling stations closed at 5 p.m. Brasília time on Sunday, and Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court, known as the TSE, began publishing official results as ballots were processed across the country.

The election has attracted particular attention in Washington because of the Bolsonaro family’s close political relationship with Trump.

Jair Bolsonaro was one of Trump’s strongest political allies in Latin America during his presidency. His son Flávio has continued to position himself on the right and could potentially bring Brazil closer to the Trump administration if elected.

Trump has not formally endorsed Flávio Bolsonaro in the presidential race, but he has publicly shown interest in Brazil’s election and has maintained close political ties with the Bolsonaro movement.

Lula, meanwhile, has taken a different approach toward Washington. During the campaign, he repeatedly emphasized Brazil’s sovereignty and criticized what he described as foreign interference in the country’s political affairs.

That has turned Sunday’s vote into something larger than a domestic Brazilian election.

A Bolsonaro victory could strengthen a growing group of right-wing governments and political movements in Latin America that are ideologically closer to Trump. A Lula victory would keep one of the region’s most influential governments under a left-wing leader who has sought a more independent foreign policy.

The race is also highly significant because of Brazil’s size and influence. According to the TSE, approximately 158.7 million Brazilians were eligible to vote in Sunday’s general election.

The presidential contest requires a candidate to receive more than 50% of valid votes to win in the first round. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the two candidates receiving the most votes will advance to a runoff on October 25.

Official counting remains underway.

For both Brazil and Washington, the final result could help determine the political direction of Latin America’s largest democracy for years to come.