Lula disappointed by results in São Paulo, expected to seek support
The close result of the first round of the presidential race, with a difference of 5% between former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers Party, PT) and President Jair Bolsonaro (Liberal Party, PL), frustrated Mr. Lula da Silva’s campaign and generated fear about the run-off vote. The PT campaign did not expect President Bolsonaro to achieve such an expressive vote nor the strengthening of Bolsonarism seen in those elected to Congress and in the states. With 51 million votes in this first round, Mr. Bolsonaro surpassed his own vote in 2018, when he got 49.2 million votes.There were expectations, motivated by opinion polls, of victory in the first round, or a second round scenario with a greater distance ahead the opponent.With 99.8% of the ballots counted, Mr. Lula da Silva had 48.38% of the valid votes. President Bolsonaro had 43.24%. At no time did Mr. Lula da Silva’s allies work with the scenario seen at the polls. The candidate’s vote in the Southeast region, especially in São Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, disappointed.In the state, President Bolsonaro had 47.71% of the valid votes, compared with Mr. Lula da Silva’s, 40.89%. In Rio de Janeiro, Mr. Bolsonaro’s main electoral base, with 99.97% of the ballots counted, the current president had 51.08% of the votes, while Mr. Lula da Silva had 40.69%.In Minas Gerais, with 99.95% of the votes counted, Mr. Lula da Silva led with 48.28% of the votes, while President Bolsonaro had 43.6%. In the state, although the former president won, the distance expected by the PT campaign was much smaller.In a statement made in São Paulo shortly after the result, Mr. Lula da Silva said that "it is not always possible to win in the first round." He affirmed that he would get the win in the second round. "It’s just extra time," he said. Mr. Lula da Silva stressed that "to the disgrace of some," he would have another 30 days to campaign.Mr. Lula da Silva also said that the run-off vote will be "the first chance to have a face-to-face debate with the president," in reference to Mr. Bolsonaro. He also said it will be an opportunity to mature proposals and "to build a range of alliances and support to show the people."Gleisi Hoffman, the head of the Workers’ Party, said there was no sadness or disappointment. Former Governor Geraldo Alckmin, vice-president candidate in Mr. Lula da Silva’s ticket, said he was celebrating with the difference of more than five million votes.As indicated by the previous...
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