Brazil’s election held over the weekend will go to a run-off because no candidate secured the 50 per cent threshold required by the constitution to be declared the presidential winner.

The run-off scheduled for October 25 will feature Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, and President Lula da Silva, Brazil’s electoral court declared on Sunday.

Though Mr Bolsonaro, a right-wing politician, polled 55.8 million votes to defeat Mr Silva, who polled about 53.2 million, neither candidate secured the required 50 per cent to be declared the winner.

Of the 99 per cent of votes counted, Mr Bolsonaro received 47.03 per cent of the total vote, while Mr Silva polled 45.16 per cent, both below the 50 per cent requirement.

Messrs Bolsonaro and Silva will face off in the run-off scheduled for October 25th to determine the election winner.

The election was close, with Mr Silva polling slightly ahead during the campaign. With 99 per cent of the votes counted, Mr Bolsonaro had 47.03 per cent to Lula’s 45.16 per cent.

However, Mr Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party has won the most governors, senators and federal deputies elected so far, suggesting the party will control the Brazilian parliament.

Mr Silva, 80, is seeking a fourth term in office, having won previous elections in 2002, 2006 and 2022, while Mr Bolsonaro, 45, a serving senator for Rio de Janeiro since 2019, is riding on his father’s popularity to oust the incumbent.