Brazil runoff pits Lula against Flavio Bolsonaro for Amazon's future

Brazilians vote Sunday in a presidential runoff between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and challenger Flavio Bolsonaro, a race that will shape the Amazon's future and Brazil's global alliances. The outcome carries major implications for US influence in Latin America. Lula, 81, faces Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is backed by Donald Trump. Polls show the candidates neck and neck, with the winner controlling Latin America's largest economy and policies on deforestation, oil reserves, and foreign relations. The election follows a first round where Bolsonaro won 47 percent and Lula 45 percent, with 21 percent of voters abstaining. Analysts warn of deep polarization, potential clashes with the judiciary, and uncertainty over whether a Bolsonaro mandate would mirror his father's approach.