Lula Secures Fourth Term in Brazil, Defying Bolsonaro Son's Challenge
The veteran left-winger won 51.79% of the vote after a controversial two-hour extension, becoming the first Brazilian president to serve four terms since 1985.
By Jessica Abebe ·
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a fourth term as Brazil's president, claiming 51.79% of the vote against 48.21% for his right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro. The margin of victory was approximately 4.4 million votes. This result makes Lula the first president in the country's history to secure a fourth term following the return to civilian rule in 1985. His next term is scheduled to begin on January 5 and will last until 2030.
Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro, has refused to acknowledge the outcome. He called for the results to be annulled, describing the victory as inexplicable and impossible. However, legal experts indicate that overturning the result is unlikely. Fernando Neisser of the Institute of Lawyers of São Paulo noted that the large margin makes a legal challenge difficult. Alberto Rollo added that constitutional fixed dates for presidential elections complicate any effort to void the count.
The final voting process included an unusual two-hour extension on Sunday evening. Both campaigns requested the delay for different reasons. Lula's team cited a lack of buses preventing voters in São Paulo and Bahia from reaching polling stations. Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign pointed to heavy rain in southern Brazil and São Paulo. The Supreme Court issued the decision just as polling stations were set to close. Some locations had already shut down and could not reopen, though Supreme Court President Kassio Nunes Marques stated the extension did not disrupt the count.
The outcome was a surprise following the first round on October 4, where Flávio Bolsonaro led with 47% of the vote compared to Lula's 45%. Lula's campaign gained momentum by focusing on increasing voter turnout. Data showed that 33 million people did not vote in the first round. The second round recorded the largest drop in abstention between election stages since 1989. This shift in participation allowed Lula to overtake his opponent in the final tally.
Lula celebrated in the streets of São Paulo after the results were confirmed. He told crowds that the election was a loss for negativity and lies. The 80-year-old former metal worker, who turns 81 on Tuesday, stated that this fourth term would be the best in the country's history. He promised it would be the period where he listens most to the Brazilian people. Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin told Lula that he had saved Brazilian democracy for the second time.
The victory places Lula in a complex position regarding foreign relations. He faces continued animosity from US President Donald Trump, who had previously supported Jair Bolsonaro. Lula used his speech to assert that Brazil would not accept being anyone's backyard, referencing Trump's proposed Donroe Doctrine. Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence for a coup attempt after losing the 2022 election. Flávio Bolsonaro had met with Trump at the White House earlier this year to seek support.
International leaders have sent congratulatory messages. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Azin emphasized shared challenges and common enemies in the region. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that democracy and multilateralism had won. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the result as a great victory for global progressivism. French President Emmanuel Macron said the two nations should work in service of a more just world. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the win a victory for the global south and progressive forces.
