Lula Reclaims Lead With 50% Counted as TSE Pauses Tally

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is leading Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in the presidential runoff with approximately half of the votes tallied. The lead emerged as ballots from northeastern states began processing. The electoral court paused the count for two hours on Sunday to resolve confusion over a sudden extension of voting hours.

Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin granted Lula's campaign a request to extend voting until 7 p.m. in certain areas. The campaign cited public transportation disruptions in three cities in Bahia. The ruling arrived near the standard 5 p.m. closing time, creating a split in how polling stations operated. Stations that had already closed remained shut, while others stayed open for an additional two hours.

This procedural shift caused the TSE to halt the official tally. The pause introduced uncertainty into a process already sensitive to the aftermath of the 2022 election. During that cycle, former President Jair Bolsonaro refused to concede defeat. His supporters later stormed government buildings, and he was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup.

Eduardo Bolsonaro, brother of the current candidate, questioned the legal basis for the Supreme Court's involvement. Speaking on a YouTube live stream, he stated that the move "doesn't inspire credibility." He added that it was difficult to imagine the legal foundation for such a decision, given that the electoral court oversees these matters.

Lula's campaign had initially sought extensions in at least nine states. They alleged that local officials reduced election-day bus services. In Bahia, a court ordered the arrest of a senior transportation official in Salvador. The official was accused of directing a reduction in the city's bus fleet. Flávio Bolsonaro also requested extensions in three states, citing bad weather.

Pollsters indicated that higher-than-expected turnout benefited Lula. Andrei Roman, CEO of AtlasIntel, told Reuters that Lula would be re-elected. Lula had previously described the situation as "something abominable" before the court decision. His allies began claiming victory on social media before the official declaration.

President Donald Trump declined to endorse either candidate in the runoff. He told reporters in Washington that the US is "watching" the process. A campaign within the US State Department reportedly aims to help return the Bolsonaros to power. Trump has not specified whom he hopes to see win the presidency.