Copenhagen, October 5, 2026. For the Danish press, the first round of the Brazilian presidential election, on Sunday, October 4, was first and foremost a reversal of expectations. Politiken writes that Flávio Bolsonaro "surprised everyone, including the polls" and led from start to finish. The newspaper now calls him the "big favorite" to become the next president, and adds that many commentators are struggling to see Lula make a comeback.

DR Nyheder provides the figures: with over 99% of the votes counted, the senator from the state of Rio de Janeiro is at 47.2%, against 45% for the outgoing president. Twelve candidates were in the running. None of them crossed the 50% threshold needed, so the two men will face off in a direct duel on October 25. DR notes, citing Reuters and the BBC, that the result exceeds the expectations placed on him.

The public channel reports the words of the evening's winner, "very happy with the result": according to him, this shows that "Brazil wants change", and he says he is convinced of repeating this success in the second round. It presents Flávio Bolsonaro as the son of Jair Bolsonaro, the former president "tarnished by scandals", who is serving 27 years in prison for planning a coup against Lula.

Berlingske, which had followed the count in real time, described an early lead: 50.4% against 41.4% for Lula with 41.6% of the ballots counted. The newspaper explains that the southern states, Bolsonaro's supposed stronghold, are reporting their results first, while the Northeast, more favorable to Lula, arrives later. It recalls that Lula, 80, is running for a fourth term, that he warned against a Brazilian sovereignty threatened by the pressure of Donald Trump, and that he reinstated social benefits and slowed down the deforestation of the Amazon during his third term.

Politiken, DR, and Berlingske thus agree that the election is now being played out over three weeks of campaigning, with a right-wing candidate in a strong position and an outgoing president who must reinvent himself. The three media outlets remain focused on the election itself: the margin of votes, the calendar of the second round, and the candidates' statements. Market reactions, regional voting, and other elections won by the Bolsonaro camp do not appear in the provided texts.

Buenos Aires, October 5, 2026. For the Argentine press, Flávio Bolsonaro's victory in the first round is a surprise. Ámbito and Perfil give 47.03% for the Liberal Party senator against 45.16% for Lula, a difference of just over 2.2 million votes. The previous day's polls had the president in the lead: Perfil cites a Datafolha poll with 45% for Lula against 42% for his rival. The second round is set for October 25. Perfil notes a record abstention rate of 21.08% and a country "divided in two" according to a clear regional fracture. Ámbito recalls that Flávio Bolsonaro's score fell as the vote count progressed, particularly with the votes from the Northeast, after exceeding 52% at the beginning.

The focus quickly shifts to Milei. Infobae reports that the Argentine president followed the results from the Olivos residence, after directly supporting the candidate in São Paulo in July, calling Lula a "scammer" according to El Cronista, which led the Planalto to summon the Brazilian ambassador to Buenos Aires. Ámbito cites his message on X: "Congratulations, dear friend Flavio Bolsonaro, on this historic election against the communist Lula," along with the hope that the two countries will remain major commercial, cultural, and political partners. Infobae notes that the Casa Rosada sees this as a series of successes for the right in the region, while avoiding predicting the outcome of the second round: "It's going to be very tight," a source confides.

Canberra, October 5, 2026. Australian media, led by SBS and ABC, are reporting on the first round of the Brazilian presidential election, held on Sunday, October 4, with a common headline: a "surprising result" that defies polls showing President Lula in the lead. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, son of former far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, garnered 47% of the vote against 45% for the incumbent president. A second round is set for October 25.

The dominant framing is continental and geopolitical. SBS and ABC write that if Flávio Bolsonaro wins, Brazil would be "the last country in Latin America to turn to the right, a trend championed by US President Donald Trump". PerthNow, before the polls closed, noted that a victory for the senator would extend a series of successes for right-wing candidates aligned with Washington, while a re-election of Lula could create "a headache" for the United States, which is in conflict with his government over trade and security.

The articles also highlight the extent of Lula's setback, who, according to them, presented the vote as a confrontation between democracy and "barbarism" and warned about Brazilian sovereignty in the face of American pressure. Almost 81 years old, he is seeking a fourth term "to consolidate his legacy". He promised: "Tomorrow, we start a new campaign. I'm very good in the direct elimination phase." Flávio Bolsonaro said he was "very happy" and confident for the second round, calling for "a modern government".

Brussels, 5 October 2026. The Belgian press is treating the first round of the Brazilian presidential election as a denial of opinion polls. La Libre Belgique and La DH, which reproduce the same dispatch, write that conservative senator Flavio Bolsonaro "created a surprise on Sunday" by overtaking the outgoing left-wing president. After the counting of nearly 99% of the ballots, the son of the former head of state obtains more than 47% of the votes, against nearly 45% for Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 80 years old. The two men will face off in the second round on 25 October.

Belgian headlines highlight the contrast with the polls. These predicted "a slight advantage for Lula until the eve of the vote", and the dispatch specifies that, "as in 2018, the opinion polls underestimated the strength of the right". VRT, which had sent Mattias Tuyls to São Paulo, recalled on Sunday a poll by the country's most widely read daily giving Lula 45% and Bolsonaro 42%, and was already anticipating a second round due to a lack of absolute majority. The journalist also described a "enorme logistieke operatie": around 158 million voters, half a million polling stations, and an entirely electronic vote since 2000.

The day before, La Libre showed two candidates convinced of winning from the first round. Lula, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, had gathered a "red tide" on Paulista Avenue and warned against interference from Donald Trump, opposing "democracy and sovereignty" to "barbarism and corruption". Flavio Bolsonaro, 45 years old, had gathered hundreds of bikers, as his father used to do, and hoped to surf on the right-wing wave, encouraged by the Trump administration, which is affecting Latin America, after Argentina or Colombia.

Brasília, October 5, 2026. According to Folha and Estadão, with 99.99% of the ballots counted this Sunday, October 4, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), 45, garnered 47.03% of the valid votes against 45.16% for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), 80. Augusto Cury obtained 2.89%, Renan Santos 2.24%, and Ronaldo Caiado 2.18%. Absenteeism reached 21.07%. Folha highlights that the gap, less than two points, is the smallest ever recorded in a first round since redemocratization; Flávio has 2.2 million more votes than Lula and surpasses, with 56.1 million votes, his father's score in 2022.

The press emphasizes the territorial dimension. Flávio wins in 14 states and in the Federal District, and makes progress in Rio Grande do Sul (55.6% against 35.7%) and in Minas Gerais (48.2% against 43.3%). Folha notes that the PL and its allies win in the first round in 10 states, against 5 for the PT and its allies, out of 20 elected governors, a record for this century. Tarcísio de Freitas is reelected in São Paulo with 62.65%; Sergio Moro (PL) is elected in Paraná. Veja reports that Michelle Bolsonaro obtains a senate seat in the Federal District and begins a solo career.

The dominant narrative is that of a Lula camp caught off guard. Estadão writes that Flávio's first place "has opened a crisis in the PT"; the president's headquarters judges it difficult to win back votes in an anti-PT climate, and its strategy will be to exploit the fear of a return of the Bolsonaro family. Folha reports dissensions within the committee, political errors, and deficient communication; PT leaders speak of "profound changes". Lula had denounced "the miliciano" and the Banco Master while voting, and opposed "democracy" and "barbarism".

Ottawa, October 5, 2026. For the Canadian press, the first round of the Brazilian presidential election, held on Sunday, October 4, is first and foremost a reflection of the balance of power between Washington and Beijing. CBC News reports that neither Lula, 80, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, nor Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, obtained the required majority. The electoral court in Brasília credits Bolsonaro with just over 55.8 million votes against nearly 53.2 million for Lula. The two men will face off in the second round on October 25.

CBC emphasizes the international scope of the election: the winner will lead "the largest economy in Latin America" and 214 million inhabitants. A Bolsonaro victory, presented as an ally of US President Donald Trump, "would increase US influence in Latin America," while with Lula, Brazil should keep its distance from Washington and deepen its relationship with China. The next term is set to begin on January 5, 2027.

The Globe and Mail, in a text published before the vote, sets the same framework. A victory for the senator would, according to the newspaper, extend a series of successes for right-wing candidates aligned with Trump in Latin America, while Lula's re-election could create "a headache" for Washington, which is in conflict with his government over trade and security. The daily recalls that Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazil in 2025, explicitly linking them to the trial of Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for plotting a coup, a trial described as a "witch hunt" by the US president.

Berne, October 5, 2026. For SRF as for Le Temps, Sunday's first round on October 4 confirms a neck-and-neck race, with a slight advantage for the far-right candidate. The figures vary depending on the moment of the count: SRF initially cites 47.4% for Flávio Bolsonaro against 44.6% for Lula after 97% of the ballots, then around 47.18% against 44.99%. Le Temps, which relies on the quasi-definitive results published by Folha de São Paulo, gives 47.03% against 45.16%. Neither of the two reaches an absolute majority, and the second round is set for October 25.

The SRF narrative puts society at the forefront. The channel writes that the result "shows how deeply divided South America's largest democracy is". Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, has bet on Christian values and courted evangelicals, who represent about a third of the electorate. The media notes that not all of his voters are convinced: a voter from São Paulo says she chose Bolsonaro out of a desire for change, with no candidate really pleasing her.

On the other hand, Lula, 80, who is running for a fourth term, has presented himself as a defender of democracy. SRF reports the fear of his supporters about Flávio Bolsonaro's proximity to Donald Trump. A voter declares that he does not want "Donald Trump to dictate what we do", even if it means accepting a fourth term for Lula.

Santiago, October 5, 2026. The Chilean press is hailing the first round as an electoral surprise. According to BioBioChile, with 99.83% of the ballots counted, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, obtained 47.07% of the vote against 45.11% for Lula, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term. The newspaper notes that the result "supuso una sorpresa" because all the polls had the president winning with several points ahead. La Tercera recalls that the last Datafolha survey, published on the evening of Saturday, October 3, credited Lula with 45% against 42%. The two men will face off in the second round on Sunday, October 25.

The story focuses on the evening of Sunday, October 4. La Tercera notes that the count initially suggested a direct victory for Bolsonaro, with 51.22% of the vote for 17.22% of the counted ballots, before the gap narrowed. Lula acknowledged: "estaba convencido de que iba a ganar en la primera vuelta", then promised that "a partir de mañana comienza la nueva campaña", saying he was "muy bueno" in the face-to-face. BioBioChile reports that he defended fiscal stability and investment in science and education, and attacked the "biografía tenebrosa" of his rival, citing his links to paramilitary groups and the Banco Master scandal.

Flávio Bolsonaro, from Brasilia, sees the election as a mandate: "Brasil quiere un cambio. Esa es la lectura". He speaks of 56 million voters and promises a "moderno, con menos ministerios" government, which would appoint at least four judges to the Federal Supreme Court.

Bogotá, October 5, 2026. The Colombian press is covering the first round of the Brazilian election as an episode in a regional sequence it is familiar with. El Colombiano wrote, on the eve of the vote, that Brazil would decide whether to "continuará o frenará la derechización del continente", recalling that Colombia and Peru, "after left-wing governments", elected Abelardo de la Espriella and Keiko Fujimori.

The results are reported with precision. According to Semana, with 99.39% of polling stations counted, Flávio Bolsonaro received 47.15% of the vote against 45.09% for Lula, who is seeking a fourth term. El Colombiano, at 99%, gives 55,619,107 votes (47.24%) against 52,810,815 (44.91%), a 2.39-point difference. Portafolio emphasizes that neither of the two candidates reached "la mitad más uno" and that the second round will take place on October 25. The Medellín daily also praises the efficiency of electronic voting, which made it possible to know in four hours that there would be a second round.

The campaign is being analyzed along two axes. Lula defends Brazil's sovereignty against what he denounces as Donald Trump's interventionism, the maintenance of the state in the economy, and social programs; Flávio Bolsonaro, presented as a little-known parliamentarian a few months ago, is focusing on security, "the principal preocupación of the Brazilians". Semana reports his speech: "Está decretado el fin de la era del PT", while Lula calls for fighting against the "pasado tenebroso" of his opponent. Semana also notes that Polymarket gave Flávio Bolsonaro a 62.9% chance of winning even before the polls closed.

Berlin, October 5, 2026. For the German press, the first round of the Brazilian election on Sunday, October 4, is first and foremost a domestic earthquake. The FAZ speaks of an "unerwarteter Rechtsruck" and estimates that the runoff duel "täuscht darüber hinweg", that the shift to the right is already a done deal. After counting over 99% of the ballots, Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, receives around 47% of the vote against around 45% for Lula, 80; DW reports 47.2% against 45%. Since neither of the two achieved an absolute majority, the second round will take place on October 25.

The newspaper emphasizes the surprise: the day before, most polls saw Lula in the lead or tied. Tagesschau mentions a gap of around three points in favor of the incumbent president, and Handelsblatt notes that no institute had predicted the surge of the right. Tagesschau also recalls that the first results gave Bolsonaro more than 50%, because the states in the South, more favorable to his camp, transmit faster than the Northeast, Lula's stronghold.

The focus then shifts to the parallel elections. Tarcísio de Freitas is re-elected governor of São Paulo in the first round with nearly 63%, ahead of Fernando Haddad. According to Handelsblatt, the Liberal Party (PL) will have the largest number of governors, and the right has clearly strengthened its position in the Senate. The FAZ even judges that, given these results, Lula's arrival in the second round must almost be read as a success. A researcher quoted by DW, Fabio de Sa e Silva, summarizes: "the momentum is with the right".

Quito, October 5, 2026. Ecuadorian media are following the Brazilian election as an issue that goes beyond borders. Primicias writes that the election will "decide whether Brazil remains on the left or joins the conservative wave that is currently dominant in the region".

On Sunday, October 4, more than 158 to 160 million voters were called to the polls, according to the headlines. Expreso reports a "incident-free" day: according to the Superior Electoral Tribunal, only 421 electronic urns had to be replaced, or about 0.07% of the total. The director of the Federal Police, Andrei Rodrigues, speaks of a peaceful vote.

On the results, Primicias reports, with 98.57% of the urns counted, 47.25% for Flávio Bolsonaro and 44.90% for Lula. El Comercio, at 96.60%, indicates 47.45% against 44.66%. The second round is set for October 25, as none of the twelve candidates exceeded half of the valid votes. Primicias recalls that Lula, 80, is doing worse than in the first round of 2022, where he had obtained 48.4% and 57.2 million votes. El Universo specifies that at the beginning of the count, with 27% of the urns, Bolsonaro exceeded 50%, before the gap narrowed.

The tone of the two candidates is conveyed through quotes. Lula, at the vote: Brazilians are choosing between "democracy and barbarism". Flávio Bolsonaro promises to "free the Brazilian people" and denounces "so many high taxes, so much political persecution". Primicias notes that the 45-year-old senator has built his campaign on insecurity and reducing dependence on social aid, and says he is "more moderate" than his father. After the result, El Universo quotes Lula calling the score "unexpected" and saying he is confident for October 25: he was "convinced" of winning from the first round.

Madrid, October 5, 2026. For the Spanish press, the notable fact of the first round of the Brazilian election on Sunday, October 4, is the gap with expectations. HuffPost España reports that Flávio Bolsonaro "surprises": with 98.36% of the ballots counted, the 45-year-old senator obtained 47.31% of the votes against 44.83% for Lula, according to official data collected by EFE, totaling over 55.5 million votes and approximately three million more than the outgoing president. The final count, reported later, gave around 47% against 45%. Since neither of them exceeded 50%, they will face off on October 25.

ElDiario.es recounts a two-part evening. With 41.57% of the ballot boxes open, Flávio Bolsonaro showed 50.41% and Lula 41.44%, a result that "fell like a bucket of cold water" in the Workers' Party camp. The media recalls that the count is slower in the Northeast, a left-wing stronghold, and in the interior of Amazonia, and that analysts were expecting a comeback from Lula, as in 2022. HuffPost notes similarly that the percentage of the far-right candidate decreased as the votes from the Northeast arrived. Expansión, more economic and factual, relays the initial results (1.70% of the electorate) showing Bolsonaro's lead, at 49.19% against 42.19%.

The gap with the polls is detailed: Quaest gave 46% to Lula and 45% to Flávio the day before, CNT/MDA even mentioned a Lula victory in the first round (47.8% of valid votes), but ElDiario.es observes that all the surveys showed a favorable wave for the Bolsonarist candidate.

Paris, October 5, 2026. The French media are portraying the result of Sunday, October 4, as a political surprise. According to Le Monde and RFI, far-right Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, garnered 47.06% of the vote against 45.12% for Lula, after the counting of nearly all the ballots. The second round will take place on October 25.

L'Express notes that opinion polls credited Lula with a lead of around three points. RFI, citing its correspondent in São Paulo, points out that the outgoing president "led the race from the start" before the gap closed, and that Flávio Bolsonaro benefited from the useful vote: the four other right-wing candidates were largely outdistanced. HuffPost France recalls that the initial estimates gave him 51% against 40%, before a tightening as the night wore on.

Reactions are being quoted with care. Lula judges the result "unexpected" and says: "The match is going to start. We are in extra time." Flávio Bolsonaro says he is "very satisfied" and thanks his voters for a "vote of confidence for change". Le Monde adds that Lula wants to convince the 30 million abstentionists, or 21% of the electorate, a record. In Rio, the Workers' Party meeting turned into a "gloomy rally".

The French press is emphasizing the polarization. BFMTV and 20 Minutes write that the reduced gap "shows that the largest country in Latin America remains deeply polarized". Sud Ouest and 20 Minutes also mention, for the second round, an a priori advantage for the senator, who could recover votes from smaller candidates. Politologist Robert Muggah, quoted by L'Express, estimates that the polling institutes "completely got it wrong".

Budapest, October 5, 2026. The same scenario is being reported by Telex, 444, and HVG: right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has won the first round of the Brazilian presidential election, but without reaching the necessary 50%. The second round will take place on October 25.

The figures vary depending on the degree of vote counting. Telex, which relies on the BBC, gives 47.03% against 45.16% for Lula with 99% of the ballots counted. HVG cites 47.24% against 44.91% at 98.81%. 444 rounds to 47% and 45%.

The surprise is the common thread. The campaign's polls gave Lula a slight lead, of about three points according to 444. This site quotes analyst Robert Muggah, from the Igarapé Institute, interviewed by Reuters: the institutes have "substantially underestimated" the support for Bolsonaro. Lula, 80, acknowledged that the result took him by surprise. "I admit, I was convinced of winning in the first round," he said, according to Telex. He added: "We are in extra time," and promised a new campaign starting Monday.

The Hungarian press believes Bolsonaro is better placed for the next round. Telex and HVG note that several eliminated candidates represented a right-wing alternative, whose votes can be transferred to him. His Liberal Party should also obtain the most governors, senators, and deputies, and therefore the greatest influence in Congress.

Rome, October 5, 2026. For ANSA, Flávio Bolsonaro "beats Lula in the first round and launches himself as the favorite" for the runoff on October 25, which will designate the fortieth president of Brazil. The agencies give slightly different figures depending on the time of the count: 47.14% against 45.03% for ANSA, 47.03% against 45.16% for Adnkronos, or about two and a half million votes apart. The other candidates, all from the center right, total around 12%. Abstention is low, participation reaches 79%, null votes 2.93%, and blank votes 1.84%.

La Repubblica emphasizes the surprise: "Lula was the favorite in the first round, he finds himself pursuing". Adnkronos recalls that the Datafolha poll gave the leader of the Workers' Party 45% against 42% for the senator. The newspaper describes a "clan": out of eight candidates linked to the family, four are elected, including Michelle Bolsonaro, presented as the "champion of Pentecostals". The question was whether the name could surpass Jair Bolsonaro and become a brand of the South American far right; the answer, the newspaper writes, has arrived "without any doubt".

ANSA details the parliamentary aspect. With more than 85% of the ballots counted, the Liberal Party would be in the lead in 20 of the 54 Senate seats at stake, ahead of the MDB (7) and the PT (6). With the senators elected in 2022, it would reach 28 seats out of 81 and become the first group in the upper house, which would strengthen the conservative camp in political and institutional battles. Adnkronos speaks of a "hard blow" for Lula, who is aiming for a fourth term at nearly 81 years old.

Mexico, October 5, 2026. The Mexican press presents the first round of the Brazilian election on Sunday, October 4, as a surprise. El Financiero writes that Flávio Bolsonaro finished "sorpresivamente" ahead of Lula, with 47.2% against 44.7% for about 97% of the ballots counted, while the polls gave the advantage to the outgoing president. El Informador, based on data from the Superior Electoral Tribunal, gives 47.31% against 44.83% for 98.36% of the count. El Siglo de Torreón arrives at 47.03% against 45.16% for 99.99%. The figures vary slightly depending on the time of the cut.

The newspapers detail the dynamics of the count. The 45-year-old senator came close to winning in the first round, then his lead narrowed with the arrival of votes from the Northeast, a bastion of the left. According to El Informador, he gathered more than 55.5 million votes, about three million more than Lula, who did worse than in the first round of 2022 (48.4%). Lula's camp estimated that he needed a four-point lead to approach the second round serenely. Augusto Cury (2.90%), Renan Santos (2.26%), and Ronaldo Caiado (2.20%) follow far behind.

El Financiero insists on the regional and stock market dimension: conservative allies have made progress in the Senate and in key states, and the result should support Brazilian assets at the opening of markets on Monday. According to the newspaper, investors have rallied behind Bolsonaro, deemed more inclined to contain deficits and debt. The daily also recalls that Lula has strengthened ties with Beijing, while Bolsonaro claims his alliance with Donald Trump.

Abuja, October 5, 2026. Nigerian dailies Vanguard and Punch, which reprint AFP dispatches, are treating the first round of the Brazilian election as a test of regional geopolitics. Vanguard wrote on Sunday that the vote will "determine if the Latin American power joins the right-wing shift" defended by US President Donald Trump.

Punch headlines with a Bolsonaro who "shocks" Lula. Far-right Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is leading with 47% of the vote against 45% for the outgoing president, in a result that "defies poll projections" that gave Lula the win. Since neither of the two reached a majority, the second round will take place on October 25. The newspaper adds that the legislative elections have given the right a series of crushing victories, a "huge setback" for Lula.

The two newspapers recall the family context: Flávio Bolsonaro, unknown just a few months ago, was designated as the political heir by his father Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after his 2022 defeat. The senator presents himself as more moderate than his father and promises to "save" Brazil from Lula, corruption, high taxes, and crime.

Lula, nearly 81 years old and seeking a fourth term, had presented the campaign as a fight between democracy and "barbarism", warning that Brazil's sovereignty was threatened by American pressure. After the results, he admits: "I confess that I was convinced I would win in the first round", and promises to win "in extra time". Flávio Bolsonaro says he is "really happy" and talks about a "very real possibility" of winning in the second round.

Oslo, October 5, 2026. Norwegian media are treating the Brazilian election as a continent-wide event. VG notes that nearly 160 million voters were to "decide the country's future" and that, as Brazil is the largest country in Latin America, the result may have an impact beyond its borders. The polling stations closed around 10 pm Norwegian time.

The story follows the live vote count. Just before midnight, with 40% of the votes counted, Flávio Bolsonaro was leading with around 50-51% against 41% for Lula, according to Reuters, figures relayed by VG and Aftenposten. With 99% of the ballots counted, the gap narrowed: 47% for Bolsonaro, 45.1% for Lula. Since no candidate exceeded 50%, the electoral authorities set the second round for October 25. Aftenposten notes that pre-election polls announced a close race, with Lula slightly ahead.

Reactions are extensively quoted. Lula, 80, said he was convinced of winning and described the result as "unexpected": "We're going into extra time." Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, rejoiced at being in the lead and stated: "Brazil wants change." The headlines pick up on the sports image of extra time ("ekstraomganger").

The press emphasizes the international axis. Lula is presented as a socialist and one of the figures of the Latin American left, who stood up to Donald Trump and strengthened ties with China. Bolsonaro, on the right, wants close cooperation with the Trump administration. VG, citing AP, notes that Lula's popularity fell during his third term, although he has regained ground.

Lima, October 5, 2026. The Peruvian press covered the Brazilian election on Sunday, October 4, mainly through agency dispatches (EFE, Reuters, AFP) reproduced by El Comercio, RPP, Gestión, Andina, and Diario Correo. On voting day, RPP reported that Lula, 80, said he was "confiado" when voting in São Bernardo do Campo: "Estoy seguro de que vamos a ganar estas elecciones." Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, voted in Rio and hoped for "un voto de protesta contra la era de atraso." RPP also recalled the latest Datafolha poll: 45% for Lula, 42% for his rival.

The vote count overturned this picture. Gestión, according to EFE, gave 50.96% to Bolsonaro and 40.78% to Lula with 10% of the ballots. Diario Correo reported 50.94% against 40.97% with 25% of the urns, and El Comercio 50.20% against 41.63%. Correo, citing Reuters, specified that these early figures favored the candidate because the south transmitted faster, while the northeast, where Lula concentrates a significant part of his support, arrived later. The dispatches in the corpus did not give the final result; they confirmed a second round on October 25, due to the lack of an absolute majority.

Andina, also via EFE, read the election as a "consolidación de la derecha" in the regions. Out of 27 states, the Liberal Party elected five governors in the first round, compared to three for Lula's PT. In São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, a former minister of Jair Bolsonaro, won clearly over Fernando Haddad in the most populous state, with 46 million inhabitants. Andina emphasized that Minas Gerais, where Cleitinho Azevedo, from the right, won widely, "suele decidir quién será el próximo jefe de Estado." In Rio, Douglas Ruas, an ally of Flávio Bolsonaro, will face former mayor Eduardo Paes in the second round.

Lisbon, October 5, 2026. In the Portuguese press, the first round of the Brazilian election on Sunday, October 4, is seen as a political upset. L'Observador writes that "quase nenhuma sondagem previa a onda": with its founder detained, Bolsonarism "fez uma prova de vida" and is preparing to govern. Flávio Bolsonaro comes in first with around 47% of the vote against 45% for Lula; Jornal Económico gives 47.14% against 45.03% with 99.45% of the sections counted, and specifies that neither Quaest nor Datafolha had predicted this lead.

The story of the evening is followed hour by hour. Flávio Bolsonaro had over 51% at the beginning of the count, before losing ground with the arrival of votes from the Northeast, a bastion of the left, according to Jornal Económico and SAPO. According to L'Observador, Lula needs to find around 2.3 million votes and faces a precedent: no candidate who came in second in the first round has won the second. The PT records its worst first-round result since 2002.

Portugal is emphasizing the parliamentary and family dimension. RTP Notícias indicates that the Liberal Party has elected 19 senators and will have the largest bench, 28 seats out of 81. Four members of the Bolsonaro family are elected: Michelle Bolsonaro to the Senate for the Federal District, Carlos Bolsonaro in Santa Catarina, Jair Renan and Renato to the Chamber. RTP also links the campaign to the crisis of the Supreme Court and the Banco Master scandal.

Moscow, October 5, 2026. The Russian press reports on the first round of the Brazilian election on Sunday, October 4, as the count unfolds throughout the night. TASS first publishes a partial result where Flávio Bolsonaro exceeds 49% (64.81% of electronic ballots processed), then confirms, at 97.36% of the minutes, 47.42% for the Liberal Party senator (55,038,846 votes) against 44.70% for Lula (51,886,308 votes). According to RT, with almost all votes counted, Bolsonaro obtains 47.03% and Lula 45.16%. Sputnik gives 47.09% and 45.08%. The figures vary from one source to another, but all conclude that there will be a second round on October 25, as no candidate has exceeded 50%.

The narrative puts foreign policy at the forefront. RT presents the election as a "foreign-policy choice": on one hand, Lula, who has sought to strengthen Brazil's role in the BRICS and deepen its ties with China and the global South powers, on the other hand, Bolsonaro, who advocates for a rapprochement with Washington and highlights his relations with Donald Trump. Vedomosti, citing Reuters, notes that Trump has not formally supported any candidate but has received Flávio Bolsonaro at the White House and publicly praised him. The same article notes that the senator promises closer ties with the United States and Israel and welcomes the Trump administration's decision to classify major Brazilian criminal groups as terrorist organizations.

Russian media also emphasize the setback for the outgoing president. Meduza recalls that polls from independent institutes gave Lula a three-point lead. Sputnik reports his words in São Paulo: "I was convinced that I was going to win the election in the first round." Lula promises a renewed campaign and presents his opponent as "uncertainty for Brazil," saying he wants to denounce his alleged links to organized crime.

Stockholm, October 5, 2026. Swedish media are reporting on the first round of the Brazilian presidential election as a tight duel that will continue. According to Aftonbladet and Svenska Dagbladet, which are running the same dispatch, Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of the former imprisoned president Jair Bolsonaro, won the first round with 47.0% of the vote, against 45.2% for Lula, once 99.99% of the ballots had been counted. The third, Augusto Cury, from the centrist party Avante, is far behind with 2.9%.

The account emphasizes that the scenario of a second round was expected: the polls showed a balanced balance of power between the left-wing veteran Lula (Workers' Party) and the right-wing candidate of the Liberal Party. "Observers have found that they were right," notes the dispatch. Svenska Dagbladet had indeed interviewed before the vote the Latin America specialist Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano, according to whom the election was "as tight as possible": Lula had the advantage at the start, but Flávio Bolsonaro had strongly caught up in the final stretch of the campaign, to the point where he could "predict nothing".

The two camps are quoted. In front of his home in Brasília, Bolsonaro says: "Brazil wants change, that's how we can interpret what happened today." Lula, during his election night, judges the result "unexpected" and affirms that "in the end, we will have the Brazilian people with us." Sveriges Radio, through the voice of its correspondent in Buenos Aires Lotten Collin, reports the words of a "euphoric" Flávio Bolsonaro: "Now the era of Lula is over, the era of the Workers' Party is over."

London, 5 October 2026. The British press is reporting a first round that has swung to the right. According to The Guardian and The Independent, with 99.9% of ballots counted, Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, has secured 47% of the vote (56.1 million) against 45.1% (53.8 million) for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 80. Neither of the two has achieved a majority: the second round will take place on 25 October.

The Guardian believes that the senator "is entering the second round as a strong favourite", carried by the probable transfer of votes from other right-wing candidates, Ronaldo Caiado (2.1%) and Renan Santos (2.2%). The newspaper notes an extreme right that is "stronger than expected": Tarcísio de Freitas re-elected governor of São Paulo, Michelle and Carlos Bolsonaro elected senators, Jair Renan elected deputy. Of the 54 elected senators, 34 are from the right or far right.

The Independent emphasizes the mechanics of the count: the southern states, favourable to Bolsonaro, have released their results faster than the north-east, Lula's stronghold. It highlights that the Liberal Party has the largest number of elected governors, senators, and federal deputies, putting it in a position of strength. The campaign, it writes, has been dominated by corruption scandals, economic concerns, and accusations of American interference.

Washington, October 5, 2026. The US media is treating the first round of the Brazilian election on Sunday, October 4, as a continental as well as national shockwave. Fox News headlines with Flávio Bolsonaro "winning the first round" while candidates backed by Trump "continue their red wave." According to the channel, with 99% of the votes counted, he leads Lula 47.2% to 44.9% in a race where the incumbent president was "widely expected" to win. Fox talks of a "spectacular failure of the polls": most gave Lula a single-digit lead. It details Bolsonaro's scores in the three largest states, including São Paulo (52% to 38%) and Rio (53% to 39%), while Lula dominates the Northeast.

CBS News sticks to the numbers from the electoral court: just over 56 million votes for Bolsonaro versus 53.7 million for Lula, with 99.8% of the ballots counted. Neither of the two reaches the required 50%, hence a second round on October 25. CBS quotes Bolsonaro: "Brazil wants change" and "it's the end of the Workers' Party era." Lula, 80, who is aiming for a fourth non-consecutive term, judges the result "unexpected" and promises: "Tomorrow, we start a new campaign."

NPR puts the election in the continuity of 2022, "a replay" of the duel where Lula had narrowly beaten Jair Bolsonaro, now sentenced to 27 years in prison, served under house arrest. The radio notes a clear shift to the right in the country, the Bolsonaro camp succeeding everywhere.

Montevideo, October 5, 2026. Uruguayan media are reporting a first round that defied polls. According to Subrayado, which picked up an AFP dispatch, Flávio Bolsonaro obtained 47.27% of the vote against 44.88% for Lula, with 98.64% of the ballots counted. El Observador, which mentions "the surprise", gives 47.21% against 45.05%. Both publications recall that the polls had predicted a small lead for the outgoing president. Datafolha credited him with 45% against 42%.

La Diaria notes that the order of arrival is not that of the polls, that Lula's camp suffered "duras derrotas legislativas" and that the Workers' Party is approaching the second round in a "panorama muy complejo". Lula nevertheless says he is confident of retaining power.

The Uruguayan perspective is first and foremost regional. Subrayado wrote before the vote that the election would decide whether the largest country in Latin America would join "la ola conservadora aupada por Donald Trump". The agency notes that Trump is extending his influence with right-wing governments in Argentina, Chile, or Colombia. It adds that he has used tariffs and sanctions against Brasilia since Jair Bolsonaro's conviction to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup. Lula made sovereignty his campaign theme.

El Observador goes further. For the daily, the result puts the Liberal Party "a un paso de desalojar" the PT from power and could strengthen regional alignment with the Trump administration. It adds that the three center candidates (Cury, Santos, and Caiado, 7% among them) would see their votes go mostly to Bolsonaro, according to opinion studies.

Caracas, October 5, 2026. The Venezuelan press is reporting on a first round that no poll had announced. According to the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), with 99.81% of the electoral body counted, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, receives 47.03% of the vote against 45.15% for Lula, reports Efecto Cocuyo (EFE). The two men will face each other in the second round on October 25; the other candidates are far behind: Augusto Cury 2.90%, Renan Santos 2.26%, Ronaldo Caiado 2.20%, Romeu Zema 0.28%, according to El Pitazo.

Efecto Cocuyo details the dynamics of the count: Flávio Bolsonaro was close to victory in the first round, then lost ground as votes from the Northeast, a bastion of the left, arrived. He totals more than 55.5 million ballots, about three million more than Lula. Últimas Noticias specifies that he had 49.58% against 42.25% at 64.81% of the count.

Lula judged the result "unexpected" and declared: "Starting tomorrow, the new campaign begins." He said he had been convinced of winning in the first round. Flávio Bolsonaro sees in it that "Brazil wants change" and promises a firm hand against organized crime as well as a "scissors cut" in public spending and taxes.

The international dimension is at the forefront in the Venezuelan media. El Nacional headlines with Trump, who sees Flávio Bolsonaro's victory as a key piece to consolidate his influence in Latin America against the BRICS, through energy, artificial intelligence, and defense projects. Efecto Cocuyo recalls that the PT has denounced attempts at interference by the United States; Últimas Noticias, citing Telesur, relays the president of the TSE, Kassio Nunes Marques: "no concrete evidence of international interference." On El Pitazo's page, a link refers to the US demand to reject the immunity of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores in the narcotics trafficking case.