Brazil votes in heated Bolsonaro vs. Lula presidential runoff By Reuters

By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian voters go to the polls on Sunday in a tense election to decide on between re-electing far-right President Jair Bolsonaro or returning leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to workplace.

The tight race provides a second probability for each candidates.

Bolsonaro has vowed to consolidate a pointy conservative flip in Brazilian politics after a presidency marred by the pandemic. Lula guarantees extra social and environmental accountability, recalling the rising prosperity of his 2003-2010 presidency, earlier than corruption scandals tarred his Staff Social gathering.

Some 120 million voters are anticipated to punch their selections into digital voting machines that Bolsonaro has criticized with out proof as fraud-prone, elevating concern he could not concede defeat, following the instance of ideological ally, former U.S. President Donald Trump.

That has added to tensions within the Brazil’s most polarizing election since its return democracy in 1985 after a army dictatorship that Lula, a former union chief, rallied in opposition to and Bolsonaro, a former military captain, invokes with nostalgia.

A number of polls confirmed the race between them tightening within the ultimate week, with Bolsonaro eroding a slight lead for Lula. Others present a small however regular benefit for Lula.

Bolsonaro outperformed opinion polls within the first spherical of voting on Oct. 2 amongst a subject of 11 candidates. Pollsters stated they recalibrated their strategies primarily based on that outcome, however most analysts nonetheless say Sunday’s runoff may go both approach.

A victory for Lula would mark a surprising comeback for the leftist chief, who was jailed in 2018 for 19 months on bribery convictions that the Supreme Court docket overturned final 12 months, clearing the way in which for him to hunt a 3rd presidential time period.

Lula has vowed a return to state-driven financial development and social insurance policies that helped carry tens of millions out of poverty throughout a commodity growth when he first ruled Brazil. He additionally vows to fight destruction of the Amazon (NASDAQ:) rainforest, now at a 15-year excessive, and make Brazil a frontrunner in world local weather talks.

A second time period for Bolsonaro would preserve Brazil on a path of free-market reforms and looser environmental protections, whereas cementing a coalition of right-wing events and highly effective farm pursuits, which bankrolled his marketing campaign.

POST-ELECTION CONCERNS

Brazil’s electoral authorities are getting ready for a slender outcome, which Bolsonaro could contest if he loses.

The president has spent greater than a 12 months questioning the reliability of Brazil’s digital voting system. Though there was no proof of fraud because it was carried out in 1996, lots of Bolsonaro’s supporters now doubt the credibility of the nation’s elections.

A rising tide of political violence this 12 months, punctuated in current weeks by armed confrontations involving high-profile Bolsonaro allies, has added to fears that contested election outcome may set off unrest.

The Superior Electoral Court docket (TSE), led by justices from the Supreme Court docket, has devised a safety plan to guard its employees and buildings within the occasion of demonstrations just like the January 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Bolsonaro’s allies are organizing a “Victory Social gathering” on Brasilia’s central esplanade on Sunday through the vote depend.

The president has additionally requested supporters to stay round voting stations till they shut at 5 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Sunday, which critics say may intimidate voters and result in clashes.

Lula, who was born into poverty and led union strikes in opposition to Brazil’s army authorities earlier than founding the Staff Social gathering within the Eighties, has referred to as on voters to defend Brazil’s democracy from Bolsonaro’s “neofascism.”

Including to the local weather of uncertainty, Bolsonaro has pushed the army to publicly endorse his idea that the voting system is susceptible to fraud.

The armed forces checked some voting machines through the first-round vote to make certain paper receipts lined up with the outcomes transmitted digitally, however they didn’t report their findings.

Retired military generals have advised Reuters they belief the armed forces wouldn’t again any unconstitutional strikes by Bolsonaro.