Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth term as Brazil’s president on Sunday, in a shock result that defied polls, precedent and global anti-incumbent sentiment. The win checks a run of right-wing victories across Latin America.
Lula beat Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of the former president, in a runoff. Lula took 51.76% of the valid vote to 48.24%, a margin of roughly 4.3 million ballots. He is the first candidate to finish second in Brazil’s first round and then win the runoff.
The outcome reverses the first round on October 4, when Bolsonaro led with 47.03% of valid votes to Lula’s 45.16%. Predictive polls after it were pointing in the same direction, making it hard to say that Lula would turn out as the winner. One survey gave Bolsonaro 53% support against 47% for Lula.
The count swung during the night as Bolsonaro took the national lead early, then Lula retook it as the Northeast reported, and the gap widened from there.
Read More: Flávio Bolsonaro Surprises Lula in First Round as Brazil Heads to October Runoff
Lula’s win leaves Mexico and Brazil, Latin America’s two most populous nations, with left-of-center leaders. The Associated Press described the result as a relief to critics of growing US influence in the region. Lula is an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, and Flávio Bolsonaro ran as a Trump-aligned conservative.
The campaign turned on pocketbook and safety worries as Lula faced a tough fight over the cost of living and security. Bolsonaro made tough-on-crime the core of his campaign and promised to cut food prices. Lula courted undecided voters with costly incentives.
As Lula’s victory has been declared publicly, Bolsonaro has refused to recognize the outcome and is demanding annulment. His father, Jair Bolsonaro, is serving a 27-year prison term for trying to stage a coup after losing to Lula in 2022.
Lula’s is the dominant figure in Brazilian politics for four decades, and he campaigned on his stamina, viz a viz his age, and framed this as his last run. Supporters cheered the result in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Lula is due to take office on January 5, 2027, and will govern a country that is closely divided and still dealing with the political fallout from the last election. Lula is also known for his pro-China leanings.
