Brazil's Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro head into Oct. 25 runoff amid debate, Meta and US-influence stories
Photo: The GuardianBrazil's presidential runoff between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro is set for Oct. 25, after Bolsonaro finished first in the opening round with 47% of the vote but did not win outright. Bolsonaro, a far-right candidate and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, wrote the word "corrupto" on his palm for a primetime television debate against Lula on Sunday night. On Tuesday, Meta said it had complied with an order from Brazil's electoral court to treat Lula and Bolsonaro equally on its platforms. In the first round, Bolsonaro won the most votes in 15 districts in Rio de Janeiro's North Zone, against 9 for Lula. U.S. President Donald Trump called the result "a very big victory." Polls indicate Bolsonaro could win the runoff.
Alternative sources lead with the race's wider context. France 24 reports a shift toward Bolsonaro in a Rio area long tied to the left, while the Christian Science Monitor asks whether the United States is meddling, citing Trump's comments, tariffs on Brazilian imports and endorsements elsewhere in Latin America. The Guardian, a left-leaning outlet, focuses on the debate, saying the palm message backfired as Lula supporters posted their own palm self-descriptions online. The right-leaning Washington Times centers on Meta's statement about equal treatment. All four coverages treat the Oct. 25 runoff as the backdrop.
How the sides differ Left sources stress a viral meme mocking Bolsonaro's debate stunt; alternative sources focus on voter shifts and US influence; right sources report Meta's pledge of equal treatment.
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The Guardian leads with the debate stunt, saying it backfired and became a viral meme, and features social media posts from Lula supporters, including a musician, a comedian and a nurse.
- Christian Science MonitorTariffs, terrorist designations, and chatbots: Is the US meddling in Brazil’s election?
France 24 highlights Bolsonaro's first-round gains in Rio's North Zone; the Christian Science Monitor examines alleged US meddling, citing Trump's remarks, tariffs and endorsements elsewhere in Latin America.
The Washington Times reports that Meta told Brazil's electoral court it complied with the order to treat Lula and Bolsonaro equally, focusing on the company's statement.