FLÁVIO BOLSONARO LEADS BRAZIL VOTE, RUNOFF SET FOR 25 OCTOBER

Brazil's first-round presidential election, held on Sunday, is heading to a runoff after the leading right-wing candidate failed to win an outright majority. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, finished ahead of incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with vote tallies giving him 47% against Lula's 45%. The runoff is scheduled for 25 October. Jair Bolsonaro remains in jail after being convicted of plotting a coup and barred from standing for office until 2030. Flávio Bolsonaro pledged during the campaign to pursue an amnesty for his father.

Members of the Bolsonaro family also won seats in Congress on the same day. Michelle Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro's wife, was elected senator for Brasília's Federal District, winning more votes than any other candidate there. Carlos Bolsonaro, the former president's second son, won a Senate seat in Santa Catarina, while his youngest son, Jair Renan Bolsonaro, was elected a federal deputy in the same state. Jair Bolsonaro's brother, Renato Bolsonaro, was elected a federal deputy in São Paulo. A third son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, did not stand, having given up his congressional seat after moving to the United States last year. Bolsonaro's Liberal Party became the largest force in the Senate, winning 19 of the 54 seats contested, short of an outright majority.

Other right-wing candidates in the race, Ronaldo Caiado and Renan Santos, took 2.1% and 2.2% of the vote respectively. One report said Flávio Bolsonaro was favourite to gain their support in the runoff. Commentators have suggested Michelle Bolsonaro could pursue a presidential bid of her own in 2030. The runoff between Flávio Bolsonaro and Lula da Silva on 25 October will decide Brazil's next president.