Sunday 30 October 2022 06:31 PM Fears of disorder if Brazil's far-right President Bolsonaro loses tonight's ... trends now
Brazil is on a knife-edge tonight as millions of voters across the country head to the polls, as fears have been raised that the current far-right President may refuse to accept the election the result if he loses and spark armed protests on the streets.
Tonight, voters in the world's fourth-largest democracy will decide whether left-wing former leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, will beat current President Jair Bolsonaro.
The divisive campaign has left the nation of 215 million people deeply split between supporting the conservative, ex-army captain Bolsonaro and the charismatic ex-metalworker, Lula.
Polls opened at 8am local time and are due to close at 5pm, (around 8pm in the UK), bringing the end to the fierce contest between the pair. The winner will be sworn in as President in January.
Lula, from the Worker's Party, narrowly beat President Bolsonaro, from the Liberal Party, by five percentage points in the first round four weeks ago, with the final result expected to be close.
Tonight, voters in the world's fourth-largest democracy will today decide whether left-wing former leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, will beat current far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Pictured: Bolsonaro shortly after casting his vote in Rio de Janerio this morning
Concerns have now been raised that if Bolsonaro, dubbed 'Trump of the Tropics', were to lose, he may refuse to admit defeat.
If he fails to accept the election result, there are fears his armed supporters will take to the streets in protest.
But on Friday night, he pledged to respect the election result, though possible accusations of rigging and backlash from his supporters loom large.
One concerned voter, on her way to a Lula rally in Sao Paolo, said she was concerned that Bolsonaro would ignore the electorate's decision.
Marcia dos Santos, 27, said: 'He is a dictator by nature, he and his family have attacked our state structures.
Former President of Brazil, and candidate for the 2022 election Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva speaking at a press conference shortly after casting his vote his morning in Sao Bernardo do Campo, near Sao Paulo, Brazil
'Everyone is worried. My mother does not want me to be out on the streets after the result. But we have got to come out, we need to come out to defend the vote.'
Her friend, 33-year-old teacher Antonia Luiz added: 'We have had disaster after disaster with Bolsonaro. This is a chance to start putting the country right with Lula. He is a good man.'
The President previously came under fire for his disastrous handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, which left more than 680,000 dead in Brazil, as well as his vitriolic style and disdain for political correctness.
However, in recent months, falling unemployment figures, slowing inflation and a recovering economy have given him a boost.
Concerns have now been raised that if Bolsonaro, dubbed 'Trump of the Tropics', was to lose, he could refuse to admit defeat. If he refuses to accept the election result, there are fears his armed supporters will take to the streets in protest. Pictured: Brazilian's heading to the polling station this afternoon
Mr Trump, who continues to falsely insist he beat President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, referred to the left-wing candidate as 'a radical left lunatic who will quickly
