Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a fourth term in office after defeating right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a closely contested presidential run-off.
Lula secured 51.79 per cent of valid votes against Bolsonaro’s 48.21 per cent, according to Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court. The result gave the incumbent a margin of more than four million votes.
The 80-year-old president celebrated the victory with supporters in São Paulo, saying Brazilians had defended democracy by voting for him.
The result marked a significant turnaround after Bolsonaro led the first round of voting on October 4 with 47.03 per cent, while Lula received 45.16 per cent.
Lula’s victory also made him the first Brazilian president to win four terms through democratic elections, extending his political career in Latin America’s largest economy.
Bolsonaro, however, described the outcome as “inexplicable” and called for the election result to be annulled. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is serving a sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election.
Bolsonaro’s challenge centres partly on a decision to extend voting hours by two hours on election day. Both campaigns had requested extensions in different areas, citing transport difficulties and adverse weather conditions.
The Superior Electoral Court confirmed Lula’s victory, while legal experts said the prospects of overturning the result were remote.
Bolsonaro ally and senator-elect Marcel Van Hattem said the candidate was deeply upset by the outcome and expressed a desire for the election to be held again.
Lula’s campaign also raised concerns about voter access, alleging that a shortage of buses prevented some people from reaching polling stations in cities including São Paulo and Salvador.
The election authority said the extension of voting hours did not change the outcome. No concrete evidence of widespread irregularities had been presented to justify annulling the result.
The capital, Brasília, remained calm following the announcement.
Despite his victory, Lula faces a difficult political environment, with more than 48 per cent of voters supporting Bolsonaro and a Congress expected to be the most right-wing of Brazil’s democratic era.
The composition of the legislature could complicate efforts to advance Lula’s policies and fulfil his campaign promises.
Lula has pledged a new approach to governing, with an emphasis on justice and opportunity, although details of his proposed changes remain limited.
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His victory also comes amid a wider regional trend towards right-wing political movements, making the result a notable development in Latin American politics.
Lula gained about 11 million additional votes between the first round and the run-off, overcoming Bolsonaro’s initial lead.
Higher voter turnout, fewer blank and spoiled ballots, and voters switching support between candidates contributed to the reversal.
Turnout increased by approximately 2.3 million voters between the two rounds. Lula also benefited from a large mobilisation effort on social media and through street demonstrations.
A WhatsApp group known as “Lula’s army” reportedly attracted nearly 11 million followers and helped amplify support for the president.
Lula increased his vote share across all nine states in Brazil’s north-east, with his largest gains recorded in Bahia. Minas Gerais was the only state to switch from Bolsonaro to Lula.
He also moved from second place to first in 211 municipalities, including the state capitals of Rio de Janeiro and Macapá.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were among those who sent messages.
Modi said he looked forward to working closely with Lula and advancing priorities shared by countries of the Global South. Carney expressed interest in strengthening trade and environmental cooperation.
Ramaphosa described the outcome as a victory for the Global South and progressive forces.
European leaders who offered congratulations included European Commission President Ursula Avon der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Separately, Meta’s Oversight Board found what it described as “enforcement failures” in the company’s moderation of content connected to Brazil’s election.
Lula’s campaign had accused the social media company of bias in favour of Bolsonaro. The board found that Meta had applied anti-fraud policies excessively to Lula’s advertising accounts.
Meta rejected claims that its moderation practices were politically biased.
Lula’s fourth term is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2027, leaving him to govern a deeply divided country amid legislative opposition and competing demands over the economy and public policy.
BBC News
