The campaigns for the second round of Brazil’s presidential elections kicked off Monday after it became clear that no candidate would achieve over 50 per cent of the ballot to be declared an outright winner. The run-off, which will be held on October 30, will pit archrivals; the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, a former president who is trying to lead the South American country for the second time. With more than 99 percent of the vote counted by Sunday evening, reports indicate that results released by Brazil’s Electoral Superior Court (TSE) showed da Silva, a left wing candidate, leading over right-wing incumbent. The latest official count put Lula ahead with 48.4% of the vote versus 43.2% for Bolsonaro. “It will be important (to have a second round) because we will have the chance to do a face-to-face debate with the current president to know if he will keep on telling lies,” said Lula, who was Brazil’s leader from 2002 to 2010. In a brief news conference Sunday, Bolsonaro said the voting reflected the poor economic conditions felt by poorer Brazilians, and promised to appeal to voters who are worried about rising prices. “We have a second round ahead where everything becomes the same, the (television advertising) time for each side becomes the same. And now we are going to show it better for the Brazilian population, especially the most affected class, the consequence of the ‘stay at home, we’ll see the economy later’ policy,” Bolsonaro said. More than 123 million Brazilians waited in long lines to vote, while another 32 million abstained. According to TSE President Alexandre de Moraes, the extensive queues were caused by new biometric security checks and higher than expected voter turnout. Simone Tebet of the Brazilian Democratic Movement came third with 4.1% of valid votes, and Ciro Gomes of the Democratic Labour Party garnered 3.05%. Bolsonaro, 67, is running under the conservative Liberal Party. He has campaigned to increase mining, privatize public companies and generate more sustainable energy to bring down energy prices. He has vowed to continue paying a R$600 (about $110) monthly benefit known as Auxilio Brasil. Meanwhile, Lula, 76, focused his campaign on getting Bolsonaro out of office and highlighted his past achievements throughout his campaign. His campaign promised a new tax regime that will allow for higher public spending. He has vowed to end hunger in the country, which has returned during the Bolsonaro government. Lula also promises to work to reduce carbon emissions and deforestation in the Amazon.
