Brazil chooses between BRICS and Trump ally in presidential runoff

LIVE UPDATES The tightly contested election between Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro has been marred by political violence and allegations of US interference Published 25 Oct, 2026 21:49 Brazil has voted in a fiercely contested presidential runoff between incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of jailed former President Jair Bolsonaro and an ally of US President Donald Trump.The election could determine whether Latin America’s largest economy maintains its prominent role in BRICS or moves closer to Washington. Bolsonaro has openly questioned Brazil’s membership in the bloc, accusing Lula of using it to antagonize the United States.The vote count has been overshadowed by a last-minute Supreme Court decision to extend voting hours nationwide by two hours, following allegations of voter suppression and disruptions to public transport. The unprecedented move has caused confusion, as some polling stations had already closed and electronic voting machines had been sealed. The campaign has also been marked by political violence and allegations of interference by US technology giant Meta, which has denied deliberately favoring Bolsonaro.The two can...