Brazil's presidential runoff too close to call as Flavio Bolsonaro leads Lula by razor-thin margin

hindustantimes.com —

Brazil's presidential runoff remained too close to call on Sunday, with right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro narrowly leading President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva by 50.02% to 49.98% as over 20% of votes were tallied. The count was delayed by a Supreme Court-mandated pause following a disputed voting extension. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin, formerly Lula's lawyer, extended voting hours in three Bahia cities due to public transportation issues, creating confusion near the 5pm cutoff. The electoral court paused counting for two hours, and legal experts warned the losing side could contest the outcome, citing potential voter disenfranchisement. A Bolsonaro victory would extend right-wing gains in Latin America, while a Lula win would counter US influence in the region. The race follows Jair Bolsonaro's 2022 refusal to concede and his 27-year prison sentence for coup plotting, with Trump declining to endorse a candidate.


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