Brazil election: Dilma Rousseff to face Aecio Neves in run-off

Brazil’s presidential race will go to a second round after incumbent Dilma Rousseff fell short of an outright victory in Sunday’s election.

She received 42% of the vote and will face centre-right rival Aecio Neves, who won 34%, on 26 October.

In a surprise result, prominent environmentalist Marina Silva got only 21% despite being a favourite at one stage, and is now out of the race.

Analysts now predict a tight contest as both candidates seek to pick up votes.

Reacting to the result Ms Rousseff – who has served one four-year term as president – said people had expressed their rejection of “the ghosts of the past, recession and unemployment”, and vowed to continue to work for change.

“I clearly understood the message from the streets and from the ballot boxes. The majority of Brazilians want us to speed up the Brazil we are building,” said Ms Rousseff, who is from the left-wing Workers’ Party (PT).

Mr Neves, 54, a senator and former governor of Minas Gerais state, called on Ms Silva’s supporters to back him, saying he represented “hope for change”.

Ms Silva, 56, said she and other Socialist leaders would meet in the coming days to discuss any endorsements for the run-off.

“Brazil has clearly signalled it is not for the status quo,” she told reporters in Sao Paulo.

“There is no way to misinterpret the sentiment of voters, of the 60% who moved for change,” she said.

More than 142 million people were eligible to vote on Sunday. Voting is mandatory for those aged between 18 and 70, and turnout was 80%.

Brazilians also elected members of congress and regional governors on Sunday.

Source: BBC