2ND Brazilian election will go to a runoff October 29

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Monday October 2, 2006

Brasilia- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva fell short Sunday of the absolute majority that would have allowed him to capture a first-round re-election, and will have to go to a runoff against Social Democrat Geraldo Alckmin on October 29. Brazil's electoral tribunal confirmed the need for a second round of voting.

Leftist Lula, of the Workers' Party (PT), had 48.60 per cent of the vote, with results reported from more than 99.8 per cent of polling stations.

Alckmin. of the centre-right Party of Brazilian Social Democracy (PSDB), had 41.64 per cent, according to the latest data. Just days before the vote, most opinion surveys had put Alckmin's support at little more than 30 per cent.

"I go into the second round with a great likelihood of victory and I want to make it clear that I will work hard to be worthy of the even greater trust of the Brazilian people," said the former governor of Sao Paulo.

The campaign for Sunday's general election was marked by accusations against Lula of possible involvement in a smear campaign against opponents.

Lula, 60, is under investigation, and the case has already prompted the resignations of several of his advisers. His decision to skip a televised debate Thursday with his main challengers may have also cost him support - perhaps even the first-round re-election that seemed certain just two weeks ago, according to political analysts.

"We are used to difficulties," said Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar, who is running for re-election along with the president. Lula's advantage over his runoff rival was at one time of 25 percentage points, according to opinion polls that pointed to first-round victory.

In comments made in Brasilia and quoted in the local media, Alencar did not say whether he thought the latest scandal had cost Lula a first-round re-election. However, he denied that the president was involved in the case.

"We know Lula has nothing to do with that," Alencar said.

The vice president was optimistic ahead of a second round of voting.

Lula himself had made no public comments about the result of the election.

Results showed far-leftist Heloisa Helena with nearly 7 per cent of the valid votes and leftist Cristovam Buarque at less than 3 per cent.

Around 17 per cent of the 126 million Brazilians eligible to vote on Sunday did not show up at the polls, though voting is compulsory between the ages of 18 and 70 in the world's 10th-largest economy.

The election took place without major incidents, according to authorities. However, voting occurred in the shadow of the worst airplane accident in Brazil's history, which on Friday claimed the lives of 155 people.

Also up for election were all 513 deputies and 27 of 81 senators in the bicameral Congress, 1,059 state legislators and the governors of the country's 26 states and the Federal District including Brasilia.

According to the electoral tribunal, the PSDB won the governorships of Brazil's two wealthiest and most influential states, Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, while another major state, Rio de Janeiro, will have to go to a runoff.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency