DOMINANT ANGLE
Caracas is eyeing the first round of the Brazilian election through the lens of Washington: Flávio Bolsonaro's breakthrough is seen as a test of Trump's influence in Latin America, between interference denounced by the PT and a lack of evidence according to the TSE.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
With 99.81% of the electoral body counted, Flávio Bolsonaro obtains 47.03% and Lula 45.15% according to the TSE; runoff on October 25 (Efecto Cocuyo).
- 02
The president of the TSE, Kassio Nunes Marques, claims to have "no concrete evidence of international interference" (Últimas Noticias, via Telesur).
- 03
Tarcísio de Freitas is reelected governor of São Paulo with 62.8% of the vote against 36.2% for Haddad, at 90% counted (Contrapunto).
ANALYSIS
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.
The Bolsonaro camp is reaping other successes: Tarcísio de Freitas is re-elected governor of São Paulo with 62.8% against 36.2% for Fernando Haddad (90% counted), according to Contrapunto. The Liberal Party has almost doubled its bench, according to Efecto Cocuyo, which also recalls Jair Bolsonaro's condemnation to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup.
SOURCES (5)
- Efecto CocuyoMEDIUM
- El PitazoMEDIUM
- Contrapunto VEMEDIUM
- El NacionalMEDIUM
- Últimas NoticiasMEDIUM
