Brazil's Bolsonaro family expands power as Lula faces runoff

Brazil holds its decisive second-round presidential election today between incumbent leftist President Lula da Silva (80) and far-right candidate Flávio Bolsonaro (45), son of convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro, with results expected around 23:00 Dutch time. Regardless of the outcome, the Bolsonaro family's political power has already grown significantly after the first round three weeks ago, when the far-right Liberal Party (PL) gained seats in Congress and family members won positions, including Michelle Bolsonaro and Carlos Bolsonaro in the Senate, and Jair Renan and Renato Bolsonaro in the Chamber of Deputies. Flávio Bolsonaro has pledged to pardon his father if elected and to amend the constitution and reform the Supreme Court, raising concerns among critics like former journalist Ricardo Moraes, who was tortured during Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship, and his son Vinicius Portella, who fear for democracy.