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| Brazil votes in presidential poll | Brazil votes in presidential poll |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Millions of Brazilians are voting in presidential elections with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seeking a second term. | Millions of Brazilians are voting in presidential elections with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seeking a second term. |
| Lula, as the president is known, is seeking the 50% of votes needed to win outright victory in the first round. | Lula, as the president is known, is seeking the 50% of votes needed to win outright victory in the first round. |
| But his lead in opinion polls narrowed ahead of the vote, amid allegations of corruption and dirty tricks involving his Workers' Party. | But his lead in opinion polls narrowed ahead of the vote, amid allegations of corruption and dirty tricks involving his Workers' Party. |
| His main rival is Geraldo Alckmin, the centre-left, business-friendly former governor of Sao Paulo state. | His main rival is Geraldo Alckmin, the centre-left, business-friendly former governor of Sao Paulo state. |
| Since Lula, the first left-winger to hold the country's highest office in 50 years, was elected in a landslide victory in 2002, his welfare programmes have helped him gain strong support among the country's poor. | |
| BRAZIL ELECTIONS Polls open: 0800 (1100 GMT)Polls close: 1900 (2200 GMT)Eligible voters: 125 millionElections taking place: Congressional, regional, presidential Send us your comments But his once-commanding lead in the polls has been dented by a series of corruption scandals involving his Workers' Party. | BRAZIL ELECTIONS Polls open: 0800 (1100 GMT)Polls close: 1900 (2200 GMT)Eligible voters: 125 millionElections taking place: Congressional, regional, presidential Send us your comments But his once-commanding lead in the polls has been dented by a series of corruption scandals involving his Workers' Party. |
| Final pre-election opinion polls showed Lula dipping a little below the 50% of the vote required to avoid a second-round run-off, while Mr Alckmin's scores had risen a few percentage points to about 35%. | Final pre-election opinion polls showed Lula dipping a little below the 50% of the vote required to avoid a second-round run-off, while Mr Alckmin's scores had risen a few percentage points to about 35%. |
| Scandals | Scandals |
| Two weeks ago two men with links to the Workers' Party were arrested carrying $800,000 dollars in cash, which detectives believe was to have paid for a dossier of corruption allegations against the president's rivals. | Two weeks ago two men with links to the Workers' Party were arrested carrying $800,000 dollars in cash, which detectives believe was to have paid for a dossier of corruption allegations against the president's rivals. |
| Profile: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Profiles: Opposition figures | Profile: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Profiles: Opposition figures |
| The scandal led Lula to sack his campaign manager, but has resurfaced over the weekend with newspapers publishing photographs of the wads of banknotes. | The scandal led Lula to sack his campaign manager, but has resurfaced over the weekend with newspapers publishing photographs of the wads of banknotes. |
| Lula denies ever engaging in smear tactics and says he has been let down by party colleagues, but faces an investigation by Brazil's federal electoral court. | Lula denies ever engaging in smear tactics and says he has been let down by party colleagues, but faces an investigation by Brazil's federal electoral court. |
| It follows controversy last year over alleged bribes for votes in congress, which led to the resignation of the party's leader and several high-level colleagues. | It follows controversy last year over alleged bribes for votes in congress, which led to the resignation of the party's leader and several high-level colleagues. |
| On Saturday, Mr Alckmin, who is standing for the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), said voters should choose him to rid Brazil of "this plague of corruption" and "to have a government that works". | On Saturday, Mr Alckmin, who is standing for the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), said voters should choose him to rid Brazil of "this plague of corruption" and "to have a government that works". |
| Poverty reduced | Poverty reduced |
| Lula, the son of an illiterate peasant family who worked as a peanut seller and shoe cleaner as a boy, also failed to turn up for a televised debate against his rivals on Thursday. | Lula, the son of an illiterate peasant family who worked as a peanut seller and shoe cleaner as a boy, also failed to turn up for a televised debate against his rivals on Thursday. |
| His policies, including raising the minimum wage and broadening state help to the poorest families, have reduced the number of Brazilians living in poverty. | His policies, including raising the minimum wage and broadening state help to the poorest families, have reduced the number of Brazilians living in poverty. |
| But many commentators argue that his programmes fail to address the structural problems that underpin poverty, such as education. | But many commentators argue that his programmes fail to address the structural problems that underpin poverty, such as education. |
| And although Brazil has seen steady annual growth under his government, some business leaders argue it is losing the competitive edge against international rivals. | And although Brazil has seen steady annual growth under his government, some business leaders argue it is losing the competitive edge against international rivals. |
| More than 125 million Brazilians are eligible to take part in the congressional, regional and presidential elections. | More than 125 million Brazilians are eligible to take part in the congressional, regional and presidential elections. |
| Also running for president is Heloisa Helena, who was expelled from the president's Workers' Party and claims to represent the voice of the true left. | Also running for president is Heloisa Helena, who was expelled from the president's Workers' Party and claims to represent the voice of the true left. |
| If no candidate achieves 50% of the vote, a run-off between the top two contenders will take place in four weeks' time. | If no candidate achieves 50% of the vote, a run-off between the top two contenders will take place in four weeks' time. |