Lula Wins Fourth Term in Tight Runoff
The incumbent defeated Senator Flavio Bolsonaro by 3.56 percentage points after a rain-delayed vote sparked immediate legal challenges.
By Luana Foster ·
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has won a fourth non-consecutive term as president of Brazil following a narrow runoff victory on Sunday. The Superior Electoral Court confirmed the results late Sunday night, showing Lula captured 51.78 percent of valid votes. His challenger, right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, received 48.22 percent.
Heavy rain and technical issues disrupted voting across the country, forcing polling stations to remain open for two extra hours. Officials originally scheduled the polls to close at 7pm local time, or 10pm GMT. The Supreme Court approved the extension after both campaigns requested it, citing transport disruptions that prevented some voters from reaching their stations.
Bolsonaro announced he would contest the outcome, blaming the two-hour extension. He stated that his legal team would seek to annul the election. Bolsonaro claimed the rules were arbitrarily changed by Lula's allies on the Federal Supreme Court. This stance conflicts with reports that the Bolsonaro campaign also asked for the delay.
The result marks a historic shift in Brazilian politics. Lula becomes the first presidential candidate to lose the first round of voting and then win the second. His victory runs counter to a regional trend where conservative governments have recently taken power in several Latin American countries.
Lula is scheduled to begin his new term on 5 January 2027. His political platform focuses on cooperation with emerging economies, poverty reduction, and environmental protection. He has consistently criticized the United States and Israel while supporting stronger ties with China and Iran. In his post-election address, Lula promised to dedicate himself to the country 24 hours a day.
Lula described the win as a defeat for outside interference in Brazilian affairs. He asserted that Brazil is no one's back yard. Congratulations have arrived from various international leaders, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, US Senator Bernie Sanders, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Source: Middle East Eye
