Brazil: Flavio changes “president-elect” to “leader”, ERT reports
A newer report says the post was deleted and replaced. The official TSE result in Lula’s favour remains distinct from the defeated candidate’s claims.
Updated 28.10.2026 · 23:58, Athens time — What changed
ERTnews, in a newer report citing AMNA and Reuters, reports that Flavio Bolsonaro deleted the 28 October post in which he called himself president-elect and replaced it with text using the term leader of Brazil. This information is attributed to that report; it is not presented as independent inspection of the deleted post.
The wording change supplements the previous update on his challenge to his defeat. It does not change the official election result: the primary TSE announcement, checked again, declares Lula re-elected with 51.79%, against 48.21% for Flavio Bolsonaro. The latter’s allegations do not establish electoral fraud.
Previous updates — history
Updated 28.10.2026 · 23:12, Athens time — What changed
Flavio Bolsonaro challenged his election defeat on 28 October. According to accessible Reuters reporting, he said from the United States that he was the rightful president-elect, without providing evidence for the claim. The agency also reports that he attributed his departure to politicisation of the justice system; that is his position.
What the electoral authority confirms
The primary Superior Electoral Court (TSE) announcement, dated 26 October, remains clear: Lula was re-elected with 64,256,232 votes, or 51.79%, against 59,826,041 votes, or 48.21% for Flavio Bolsonaro.
The new development is the defeated candidate’s public challenge, not a change in the official result. The checked texts do not establish reversal of the result or electoral fraud. The title of president-elect is not assigned to Flavio as fact.
Previous updates — history
Updated 26.10.2026 · 05:12, Athens time — What changed
The official Brazilian Superior Electoral Court (TSE) feed now shows completed totalisation of the presidential runoff held on 25 October 2026. The file records 499,248 of 499,248 polling stations — 100% and marks Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as elected.
- Lula: 64,256,232 votes, 51.79% of valid votes.
- Flavio Bolsonaro: 59,826,041 votes, 48.21%.
The file carries the generation timestamp 25 October 2026, 23:27:02, reproduced as shown by the source rather than Athens time. The completed count and elected status are now expressly recorded in the official feed.
The substantive change from the preceding update is the move from 99.98% reporting and an established victory to a completed count with an official elected designation. This is not presented as completion of every subsequent legal step or as an inauguration. Earlier figures remain in the history.
Earlier updates — history
Updated 26.10.2026 · 03:04, Athens time — What changed
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has won the presidential runoff held on 25 October 2026. On 26 October, ERT reported that he had secured a fourth presidential term, in reporting credited to Reuters, AFP and AP.
The latest official Superior Electoral Court (TSE) feed, with 499,139 of 499,248 polling stations incorporated — 99.98%, records:
- Lula: 64,240,549 votes, 51.78%.
- Flavio Bolsonaro: 59,818,462 votes, 48.22%.
The margin is 4,422,087 votes. In the same official snapshot, registered voters in unreported stations number 31,483, fewer than the margin. Candidate percentages concern valid votes, with blank and invalid ballots listed separately.
Victory and completion of the process
The victory is distinct from complete reporting: the feed has not reached 100% and is not presented here as completion of every subsequent certification step. The file carries the generation timestamp 25 October 2026, 22:01:51, reproduced as shown by the source, rather than Athens time.
The preceding update covered a lead of 51.45% with 86.41% of polling stations incorporated. It remains in the history as an earlier stage of counting.
Earlier updates — history
Updated 26.10.2026 · 02:00, Athens time — What changed
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva leads in the official Brazilian Superior Electoral Court (TSE) feed for the presidential runoff held on 25 October 2026. With 86.41% of polling stations incorporated, Lula has 54,957,812 votes, 51.45%, against 51,861,771 votes, 48.55% for Flavio Bolsonaro.
The official file carries the generation timestamp 25 October 2026, 20:58:31, reproduced as shown by the source; it is the file’s timestamp, rather than Athens time. Candidate percentages concern valid votes. Blank and invalid ballots are recorded separately.
Partial count, not a declaration
The feed records 431,396 of 499,248 polling stations as incorporated. The 86.41% concerns polling stations, not voter turnout. The count is not marked complete and neither candidate is flagged as elected in this snapshot. No winner is therefore declared here.
This update covers the second round. The first-round figures and the two candidates’ qualification, covered in the earlier edition, remain below as historical reporting.
Earlier updates — history
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will face each other in Brazil’s presidential runoff on 25 October 2026, after no candidate exceeded 50% of valid votes.
The nearly complete count
With nearly 99% of votes counted, Reuters reported that Flávio Bolsonaro had about 47% and Lula 44.9%. The two candidates finished first among a field of twelve and advance to the runoff.
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) maintains the official totalisation feed. The court says final percentages become available when processing of the polling sections is complete. The runoff pairing has therefore been established, while formal certification of the precise figures remains the responsibility of the TSE.
What changed since the first update
At the earlier stage, with about 85% included, the count stood at 48.47% for Flávio Bolsonaro and 43.49% for Lula. As more votes were added, particularly from areas where Lula is stronger, the gap narrowed and the percentages moved to the current near-final picture.
The political battle on 25 October
Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is seeking to return to power the right-wing political movement associated with his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro. Lula, 80, is seeking another term. The campaign focused on the cost of living, crime, public finances and allegations of political interference and corruption.
Reports of investigations or allegations do not amount to convictions. The confirmed electoral development is that the two leading candidates advance to the runoff; the TSE’s official totalisation will provide the final first-round distribution.
A parallel battle for Congress
Voters also elected all 513 members of the lower house and two-thirds of the Senate. The balance in Congress will affect the next president’s ability to pass economic, social and environmental policies.
English translation of the Greek edition · Read in Greek