Brazil's Strongman Closes In on Presidency After Round-One Rout
- Ex-Army captain Jair Bolsonaro to face Leftist Fernando Haddad
- Tumultuous election marked by violence and polarization
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Jair Bolsonaro, the divisive, far-right former Army captain, stormed to a huge lead in the first round of Brazil’s presidential elections Sunday as voters enraged by years of recession, corruption scandals and soaring crime rallied around his strongman message.
The result puts the seven-time congressman on track for victory in the decisive, second-round vote on Oct. 28, when he will face his closest challenger, the Workers’ Party candidate Fernando Haddad.