Brazilians began voting in Sunday’s (October 25, 2026) polarising presidential election between incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro , a contest that will determine whether the U.S. will significantly expand its growing influence in Latin America.
Lula, trying to lure undecided voters, has invested in costly incentives since he lost the first round of voting. Mr. His government’s most recent moves have been endorsing a debt relief program for small businesses and promising free public transportation on weekends. A win for the incumbent came with the Senate’s approval of the six-day working week — a popular proposal backed by the government. Mr. Lula has criticised the U.S. President before Brazil’s election, speaking about the risks of U.S. intervention in Brazilian elections after the Trump administration imposed high tariffs against Brazilian exports, sanctioned a Supreme Court justice who chaired the investigation that ended up resulting in the sentencing of Jair Bolsonaro and classified drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations, which experts say may have been intended to make Lula look soft on crime. Flávio Bolsonaro has touted his proximity to the White House and insisted that Brazil needs to strike better deals with the Trump administration, including the rare minerals economy. He denies he’s being helped by the U.S. government. President Donald Trump, who has not openly endorsed the son of his ally.
Brazil estimates that its deposits hold up to 21 million tons, second only to China. Brazil votes in cliffhanger Brazilians head to the polls on Sunday (October 25, 2026) facing a stark choice — another four years under veteran leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, or a return to the right under Senator Flavio Bolsonaro. Lula, who turns 81 next week and is hoping to pull off a dramatic turnaround after a shock second-place finish in the first round to the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Earlier reporting noted: More Lula, or back to the Bolsonaros? Earlier reporting noted: It is the final electoral battle for Mr. Earlier reporting noted: Sunday’s runoff will determine whether Brazil remains one of Latin America’s few leftist nations or joins a regional swing to the right championed by U.S.
Polls before Sunday’s (October 25) vote showed the two candidates, who need more than 50% of the vote to become Brazil’s next leader in January, in a neck-and-neck race. The next President will name at least three Supreme Court justices out of 11 in his next term due to upcoming retirements. The election pits the left-of-centre veteran politician Mr. Lula against Mr. Bolsonaro, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump and the son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro . A victory for Mr. Lula would leave Brazil and Mexico, which is the region’s second-most populous country and led by President Claudia Sheinbaum , with left-of-centre leaders. Mr. Bolsonaro has long taken aim at the country’s top court — which has been rocked by a corruption scandal — and promised to push for judiciary reform.
