Brazil presidential elections head for second-round

[G_j]

Source: Guardian UK

Brazil presidential elections head for second-round

Dilma Rousseff may have fallen just short of becoming country's first woman leader
authority.

Opposition candidate Joe Serra, of the Social Democrats has 34.9% of votes.

The Guardian, Monday 4 October 2010

Brazil looked to have fallen short of electing its first female president last night, with Dilma Rousseff appearing to have to go into to a second round run-off.

With 90% of votes counted, Rousseff had in the region of 46%; to win outright she would have needed more than 50%. One "well-placed" source within the Rousseff camp told Reuters there was "no way" she would take the first round, although Rouseff, a former guerrilla, had the backing of the retiring president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Her rival, the Social Democrat Jose Serra, had just over 33%, while Marina Silva, an Amazon-born Green party candidate, had 20%. Silva, a former rubber-tapper who was environment minister before she quit Lula's Workers' party in 2009, has had a surge in support, particularly in the cities.

More than 135 million Brazilians went to the polls yesterday to elect senators, state governors, MPs and a president. While Rousseff, 62, Lula's former chief of staff, enjoys the support of the hugely popular leftwing leader, she lacks the charisma and recognition of her political mentor.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/04/brazil-presidential-elections

[Warpy]

1. Let's hope the lead holds up

and Brazil stays on a leftward course.

[rabs]

2. The Green Party vote was a complete surprise

Polls had indicated that Marina Silva would get around 10 percent of the vote. She got almost twice that (19.5 percent with 97.79 of the votes tallied).

That is what thwarted Dilma from a first-round victory.

But all indications at this time are that Dilma will cruise to an easy win in the second round against Serra (a moderate lefty himself).

[iandhr]

3. I give Lula credit for

graciously standing aside when his term was up.


Other leaders in Latin America should take note

[harmonicon]

4. pfft (nt)