Brazil Awaits Runoff Results as Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro Face Off

Brazil awaits results Sunday night from the presidential runoff between leftist President Lula and conservative Flavio Bolsonaro, after last-minute confusion caused by an extended voting period. Vote counting resumed on the electoral court's website around 10 PM GMT. Lula, who turns 81 next week, trailed with 45% against Bolsonaro's 47% in the first round. About 160 million voters decided whether Brazil remains a leftist bastion in Latin America or joins the region's rightward shift encouraged by President Donald Trump. A Supreme Court judge extended voting by two hours after Lula's campaign alleged buses were removed in some cities, though some electronic ballot boxes had already closed. Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, promises closer US ties, tougher crime policies, and spending cuts, while presenting himself as more moderate than his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving house arrest for attempted coup. Lula casts himself as democracy's defender against US pressure. Trump said only, "We're watching."