Bolsonaro & Lula Neck-And-Neck In Presidential Election, Datafolha Calls Runoff

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has taken a slight edge in Brazil's presidential election over the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, but the race remains too close to call. The early vote count puts Lula on 47% and Bolsonaro on 44%, with 89% of votes counted.

• Polling company Datafolha predicts that no candidate will get 50% of the vote, in which case Brazil will head into a runoff election on October 30. Pre-election opinion polls had suggested Lula should win by a comfortable margin, but the election appears tighter than had been expected.
• In the most likely event of Lula's victory, the focus will be on his policy proposals. Lula is seen as less market-friendly than Bolsonaro, although he sought to calm observers by picking pro-business former Sao Paulo Governor Alckmin as his running mate.
• Bolsonaro's willingness to ensure a smooth transition of power will also be of interest, after the sitting President said the voting machines used in the election are prone to fraud, without backing his claims with evidence.
• Brazilian voters are also electing state Governors, all members of the Chamber of Deputies, one-third of the members of the Federal Senate.