Brazil Votes in Runoff Between Lula and Bolsonaro Jr
Brazilians vote Sunday in a tight presidential runoff between leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, a result that could shift Latin America's largest nation sharply rightward and closer to the United States. Bolsonaro, son of convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro, led the first round with 47% to Lula's 45%, defying polls. He has pledged to free his father, convicted in 2025 for plotting a coup, while Lula faces economic anxiety over high living costs and gang violence. The race is colored by US tensions, including President Donald Trump's tariffs on Brazil and accusations of meddling, which Washington denies. A Bolsonaro win would extend a regional conservative wave, while a Lula victory would disappoint Washington.