Progressive voters and supporters of incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva left reeling after far-right surge

Flávio Bolsonaro is in pole position to win Brazil’s presidential election, after a far-right tsunami propelled him to a shock first-round victory over the incumbent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, leaving progressive voters reeling.

The 45-year-old rightwing candidate received 56.1m votes to Lula’s 53.8m – 47.03% to 45.16% – meaning the 80-year-old leftwinger has a mountain to climb if he is to bounce back in the second round on 25 October. Never, since the return of democracy to Brazil in 1985, has the first-round runner-up managed to turn the game around and win the second ballot.

“Miracles are possible in politics. But I don’t see that happening,” the political scientist Miguel Lago said of Lula’s chances of snapping back. “I don’t see Flávio losing this election now.”

    • Phelpssan@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      That sounds correct, left votes are very centered around Lula.

      Which is also another major problem for the left in the future - he’s 80 and there’s absolutely no good successor to inherit those votes (partially his own fault too, he and his party never liked to share).

    • NekoKoneko@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Yup, your analysis is better, because you look at the specific candidate and I just looked at the party.