Brazilians vote in tense presidential race led by right-winger Bolsonaro
Analysts say a firstround victory for the former paratrooper is possible — but unlikely
Brazilians began voting yesterday to elect a new president, with a far-right politician promising an iron-fisted crackdown on crime, Jair Bolsonaro, the firm favourite going into the first round.
Surveys suggest the 63-yearold former paratrooper, who wants to cut spiralling debt through sweeping privatisation and embrace the United States and Israel, could count on more than one in three voters in the vast Latin American nation.
But at least as many in the 147-million-strong electorate reject the veteran federal lawmaker, who is known for repeated offensive comments against women, gays and the poor, and for lauding the military dictatorship Brazil shucked off just three decades ago.
If Bolsonaro gets more than 50 per cent of the vote to lead the field of 13 candidates, he will win the presidency outright. Otherwise, a run-off will be held on October 28.
Analysts say a first-round victory for Bolsonaro is possible — but unlikely. The last surveys released late Saturday credited Bolsonaro with 36 per cent against 22 per cent for his nearest rival, leftist former Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad.
With blank and invalid votes stripped out, Bolsonaro could pocket 40-41 per cent of the vote to 25 per cent for Haddad, polling firms Ibope and Datafolha said.
A run-off was seen as too close to call, given the plus-orminus two-point margin of error, though Bolsonaro was seen with a small edge: 45 per cent, to 41-43 per cent for Haddad.