Brazil’s presidential election is heading to a second round after no candidate won outright in the October 4 first round. Right-wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro finished first with 47.24 per cent, ahead of incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva with 44.91 per cent. The run-off is on October 25.

With about 98.8 per cent of votes counted, neither crossed the 50 per cent needed for an outright win. About 125.3 million valid votes were cast, with results streaming in from 5pm as ballots were counted.

Flavio Bolsonaro is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted of masterminding a failed coup attempt to overturn the previous election result.

The decider comes down to roughly 8 per cent of voters who backed other candidates, plus turnout. The race has drawn global attention — Donald Trump’s Truth Social post mistakenly called it “India’s Presidential Election” before being corrected. Brazil now has three weeks of campaigning before voters decide.