'Right-Wing' Bolsonaro Leads in Early Count of Brazil's Presidential Election

[Financial News] Flávio Bolsonaro, a right-wing senator from the Liberal Party, is leading in the early count of Brazil's presidential election held on the 4th local time.
With more than 24% of the votes counted about one hour and 20 minutes after the polls closed, Bolsonaro had secured 50.94% of the vote, ahead of President Lula, who had 40.97%.
Bolsonaro has maintained a surprise early lead as votes from urban areas such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are being counted first.
However, the gap between the two candidates is expected to narrow quickly once votes from the Northeast, where Lula enjoys strong support, are fully included.
Trailing the two leading candidates, writer Augusto Cury had 2.94% of the vote and Ronaldo Caiado had 2.37%, placing them in the middle tier.
Although Lula had consistently led in pre-election polls, the outcome remains difficult to predict because votes from urban areas were counted first in the early tally.
The two-way race remains firmly established, and the contest is extremely close. Barring an upset, Senator Bolsonaro and President Lula are expected to settle the race in the runoff election scheduled for the 25th.
Under Brazilian election law, if no candidate wins a majority of 50% or more in the first round, the top two candidates must compete in a runoff. Because Brazil uses electronic vote counting, the final ranking in the first round and the broad outline of the runoff matchup are expected to emerge by this evening.

[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, international affairs specialist Reporter