BOLSONARO WINS BID FOR PRESIDENCY

SAO PAULO Far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro won the presidency of Latin America’s largest nation Sunday as voters looked past warnings that the brash former army captain would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil.

With 97 per cent of ballots counted, Brazil’s top electoral court said Bolsonaro had won with 55.4 per cent of the votes. His opponent, leftist Fernando Haddad of the Workers’ Party, had 44.4 per cent.

In Rio de Janeiro, Bolsonaro’s supporters set off fireworks on iconic Copacabana Beach. In Sao Paulo, car horns could be heard honking as the results came in. There were also reports of clashes between his backers and opponents on Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo.

“I first want to thank God,” Bolsonaro told supporters in a video from his home in Rio, recounting how he was stabbed while campaigning last month.

CARL DE SOUZA / AFP / GETTY IMAGES A supporter of far-right lawmaker and presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, takes part in a pro-Bolsonaro demonstration in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. Bolsonaro won the vote to become the next president of Brazil.