The left lula leads in polls, while Brazil votes in bitter elections

The left challenger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva prevailed in the presidential elections in Brazil on Sunday with around 70 percent of the counted votes against the right -wing extremist incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.

Mr. Lula was behind the expectations based on opinion polls before the elections and, according to official results, had 46 percent of the votes to 45.3 percent for Bolsonaro, with 73.3 percent of the polling stations.

There were fears that Mr. Bolsonaro could not accept the result if it was not in his direction. Mr. Lula, who voted in the city of Sao Bernardo Do Campo, just outside of Sao Paulo, said he thinks he was "simple to restore democracy and peace in the country" when he wins.

he said: "The most fanatical Bolsonaro supporters have to adapt to the majority of society. The majority do not want to confront.

"I want to try to let the country return to normal, try to get this country to take care of its people again."

Mr. Bolsonaro appeared to coordinate in a military village in Rio de Janeiro. He said: "If the elections run clean and without problems, let the best man win."

The President has targeted electronic ballot gymnastics throughout the campaign of Brazil and claims that they are susceptible to fraud. Donald Trump asked the Brazilians to vote for Mr. Bolsonaro and gave him his "complete and unrestricted support".

Neymar, the Brazilian star footballer, also supported Mr. Bolsonaro.

If a candidate in the first round does not receive more than 50 percent in the Brazilian elections, the race goes to a second head-to-head round between the two best-placed competitors, which was to take place on October 30th. Brazil uses a completely electronic electronic system and the results were quickly expected.

During an election campaign event on Saturday, Mr. Bolsonaro said that there was "no way [I Won’t] at least 60 percent of the votes."

As the former captain of the army, Mr. Bolsonaro supervised a turbulent first term of the president. The President dismissed Covid-19 as "small flu", rejected social distancing and mask use and delayed the purchase of vaccines.

Mr. Lula was president between 2002 and 2010 for two term. After leaving office, he served 580 days in prison for passive corruption and money laundering. The Supreme Court raised its conviction last year and allowed him to run for an office again.

Luiz Garcez, 49, who votes in the southern city of Curitiba, said that Mr. Bolsonaro's presidency was "one of the best in history" because "he built a lot and helped the country".

Analysts said that many voters due to pandemic, slow economic relaxation that the poor have not yet reached and returned to Mr. Lula.

Mr. Bolsonaro has received strong support from evangelical and white men, while Lula is more popular with voters, minorities and poor.