Lula cornered by Bolsonaro family’s landslide victory in Brazil

Former President Jair Bolsonaro was the biggest winner in Brazil's recent general election, despite not having his name on the ballot. 

Bolsonaro, 71, who is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup and is currently under house arrest, watched from prison on Sunday as his eldest son and senator Fávio Bolsonaro won a stunning victory in the first round of the presidential election against incumbent leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. 

Due to right-wing leanings and some mistakes in Lula's campaign, Favio is now the frontrunner in the second round of voting, which will be held on October 25. 

Candidates from Bolsonaro's right-wing Liberal Party have made impressive gains in the election, suggesting that the issue of Bolsonaro's legal woes or amnesty could be resolved when the new Congress takes office in January. 

In addition to Favio, four other members of the Bolsonaro family won in the election, including the former president's wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, and second son Carlos, who won senatorial seats, and brother Renato and youngest son Jair Renan, who won seats in the lower house. According to political analysts, this is the first time in Brazilian political history that so many members of a family have won at the same time. 

Although the former president was unable to campaign in person due to health complications, he was supported by an AI-generated avatar during the election campaign. Meanwhile, with Favio receiving 47% of the vote and Lula 45% in the first round, analysts believe that the second round will be quite tough. 

Liberal Party President Valdemar da Costa Neto told Reuters that former President Jair Bolsonaro could once again play a key role in his son's government if Favio ultimately wins. 

Source: Reuters .