Lula Secures Fourth Term in Brazil
The 81-year-old leader defeated Flávio Bolsonaro by 4.4 million votes after a chaotic final day of polling.
By James Brooks ·
Brazilian voters handed Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva a fourth non-consecutive term on Sunday. The electoral court confirmed his victory with 51.8 percent of the total vote. This result secures the presidency for the veteran leader, who turns 81 on Tuesday, through January 5, 2027.
Lula’s lead over opponent Flávio Bolsonaro stood at nearly 4.4 million votes. This margin reversed the outcome of the first round held earlier this month, where Bolsonaro had held a 2.2 million vote advantage. The second round marked the first instance since 1985 where the runner-up from the initial vote won the final contest.
The final day of voting was marked by administrative confusion. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ruled three minutes before the scheduled end of voting to extend polls by two hours. This decision delayed the tallying process and triggered a challenge from Bolsonaro, who stated he wants the election annulled due to the extension. Zanin, who served as Lula’s former lawyer, made the call after both campaigns requested more time.
Lula addressed supporters in São Paulo, where hundreds gathered on the city’s main artery to celebrate. He described the result as a defeat for denialism and emphasized Brazil’s sovereignty. He stated that the country will not accept being anyone’s backyard. The victory keeps Latin America’s largest economy, valued at $2.6 trillion US per year, independent of Washington’s influence despite increased tariffs from the United States.
The race focused on cost of living and security. Bolsonaro campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform and promised to lower food costs. Lula countered with costly incentives to appeal to undecided voters. Both candidates face corruption suspicions involving family members, a factor that complicated the final weeks of the campaign.
Lula begins a career that started in the 1970s as a union leader. He helped found the Workers Party and first won the presidency in 2002. His previous terms included a re-election in 2006 and a narrow win against Jair Bolsonaro in 2022. He now joins U.S. President Donald Trump and Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega as the oldest sitting heads of state in the Americas, all aged 80.
