Brazilians head to polls in high-stakes, polarized election as Lula faces Flavio Bolsonaro

BRASILIA— Brazilians head to the polls on Sunday in the first round of a narrowly split election after a campaign dominated by corruption scandals, economic anxiety and accusations of U.S. meddling.

Leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 80, is seeking a fourth term, while Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the 45-year-old son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, hopes to return his father’s right-wing ⁠movement to power.

A victory for the senator would extend a wave of wins across Latin America by right-wing candidates aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump, while Lula’s reelection could create a headache for Washington, which has clashed with his government over trade and security.

Despite growing worries over Brazil’s public finances and sluggish economic growth, the campaign has offered meager policy debate, as both leading candidates skipped the major TV debates.

If no candidate wins more than 50% of valid votes, the top two will face off on October 25. Surveys show Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro polling roughly even in a likely runoff.

Other candidates, including former state governors Ronaldo Caiado and Romeu ⁠Zema, have struggled to break through with the polarized electorate, even as Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro are ​each rejected by ⁠roughly half of voters…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business