Brazil's presidential election is heading to a second round after no candidate won an outright majority in Sunday's vote, with former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro set to contest the runoff.
The result, confirmed after polls closed across the country, means the world's fourth-largest democracy will face another three weeks of campaigning before voters return to decide the presidency. The contest has deeply divided Brazil, mirroring the polarisation that marked the 2022 election between Lula and the elder Bolsonaro.
Voters in Brasília and across the vast country cast ballots on Sunday in an election watched closely across Latin America and beyond. The first round failed to produce a winner, triggering the runoff under Brazilian electoral law.
The campaign now shifts to a direct confrontation between two figures representing sharply different visions for Brazil. Lula, who governed from 2003 to 2010 and returned to office in 2023, is seeking another term. His opponent carries the Bolsonaro name, a powerful brand in Brazilian politics that mobilised a loyal conservative base in the last election.
The runoff campaign is expected to focus on the economy, public security and the role of the state, issues that dominated the first round. Both camps will now seek to attract voters whose preferred candidates were eliminated, making endorsements and alliances critical in the coming days.
Brazilian electoral authorities have not yet released the full official results, but the outcome of the first round was clear enough to confirm the runoff pairing. The second round is scheduled for later this month.
The election takes place against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and domestic debate over Brazil's direction. The country is a major exporter of agricultural commodities, including soy, coffee and beef, and its political stability matters to trading partners around the world.
For Caribbean nations, Brazil's election carries particular interest. Brazil is a fellow member of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and has been an important partner in regional cooperation, including on climate change and development finance. A change in leadership could shift the tone of Brazil's engagement with the Caribbean.
Dominica and other Eastern Caribbean states maintain diplomatic and commercial ties with Brazil, and the outcome of the runoff will be followed in Roseau and across the region. Brazil has also been a voice in global climate negotiations, an area of direct concern to small island developing states facing rising sea levels and stronger hurricanes.
The first round was conducted amid heightened security in several cities, though no major disruptions were reported at polling stations. International observers were on hand to monitor the vote.
The runoff will test whether Lula can hold the coalition that returned him to power, or whether the Bolsonaro movement can stage a comeback after its leader's legal troubles. The result will shape Brazil's politics for years to come.