Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faces a tough run-off for a second term in office with a rejuvenated opposition after a string of political scandals have dented his popularity.
Lula fell just short for a first round victory, polling 48,6% of the vote, compared to 41,6% of his closest rival Geraldo Alckmin.
A first-round win for the former shoeshine boy had looked guaranteed until a fresh scandal, which the country’s press has dubbed Brazil’s Watergate, erupted two weeks ago. Six members of Lula’s Workers’ Party face arrest for allegedly trying to purchase a dossier incriminating a political rival.
Before ”dossiergate”, Alckmin was considered an outsider. Many believed he was only running because better placed rivals considered Lula too popular to beat and preferred to wait until 2010, when he would be unable to run.
But Alckmin’s share of the vote increased by nearly 20% after the scandal, with the former governor of Sao Paulo beating Lula in 11 of the country’s 27 states.
Opposition leaders heralded the outcome as a victory over corruption.
Disillusioned voters, however, remained unconvinced that the culture of corruption could be exorcised so easily. Thousands of voters in Sao Paulo went to the polls wearing red noses, a protest at being treated like clowns by their leaders. — Â