Trump calls for faster US vote count after Brazil election

U.S. President Donald Trump called the American electoral system corrupt and suggested that results are manipulated in Democratic areas by comparing it with the speed of Brazil's vote count, according to the outlet AlbertoNews. According to the outlet, 125 million people voted in the first round of Brazil's presidential election, and the results were known the same day, while in American cities the count usually takes longer.

In contrast with the decentralized U.S. system, in which states set their own counting methods and deadlines, markets reacted immediately to Brazil's election day. According to France 24, the iBovespa stock index of the São Paulo stock exchange rose nearly 9% to a record high, driven by the advance of allies of candidate Flávio Bolsonaro in Congress.

In the first round reported by AlbertoNews, Flávio Bolsonaro won 47% of the vote against 45% for incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which will force a runoff on October 25. On the currency front, the Brazilian real gained 4.5% against the dollar at midday, trading slightly above 5 reais to the dollar, according to data from France 24's coverage.

Trump's criticism comes ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November 3 in the United States. While key states usually publish most of their results within 24 hours, those with narrow margins keep prolonged recounts that the former president systematically questions.