Bolsonaro and Lula head to runoff in Brazil's presidential election

Brazil's electoral authority announced on Sunday that the country's presidential race will be decided in a second round, pitting Senator Flavio Bolsonaro against sitting President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The announcement followed Sunday's vote, in which the two candidates ran closely matched, leaving neither with a sufficient margin to secure outright victory in the first round.

A decisive vote in October

According to the electoral authority, the runoff will take place on 25 October. On that date, Brazilian voters will determine which of the two men goes on to lead the country as president.

Lula da Silva currently holds the presidency, while Flavio Bolsonaro represents the country in the Senate and is now his direct rival for the nation's top office. Their head-to-head matchup underscores how divided Brazil's political landscape remains between these two camps.

In the weeks leading up to the runoff, both candidates are expected to intensify their campaigns as they seek to win over voters who backed other contenders in the first round. The final decision on who will govern Brazil rests with voters on 25 October.