Lula Takes 51.8% of Brazilian Votes to Secure Fourth Term

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won re-election to a fourth non-consecutive term.

The electoral court declared Lula the winner after counting all votes from the Sunday run-off. He received 51.8 percent of the ballots, finishing nearly 4.4 million votes ahead of his opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro. This outcome marks the first time since the military dictatorship ended in 1985 that the runner-up in the first round went on to win the presidency. Earlier this month, Bolsonaro finished more than 2.2 million votes ahead in the initial round. Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, secured the lead after reorganizing his campaign, courting young voters, and expanding government initiatives.

The path to victory was complicated by a last-minute procedural change. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ruled three minutes before the scheduled closing time that polling places would remain open for two extra hours. Both campaigns requested the extension, though for different reasons. Lula's team cited transportation issues in São Paulo and Salvador, while Bolsonaro's team pointed to heavy rain in southern Brazil. The decision sparked disorder at some locations and led Bolsonaro to immediately reject the outcome. He called for the results to be annulled, noting that Zanin previously served as Lula's lawyer. Bolsonaro accused the justice of changing the rules mid-game and stated it was impossible to recognize the election results under those circumstances.

Lula addressed thousands of supporters in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro's Cinelândia Square to declare victory. He promised to respect all Brazilians regardless of gender or religion. In his speech, Lula described the win as a defeat for denialism and lies. He also emphasized national independence, stating that Brazil will not accept being anyone's backyard. The result confirms that Latin America's largest economy, with an annual GDP of 2.6 trillion US dollars, will continue to resist demands from the United States despite higher tariffs. This stands in contrast to a regional pattern of right-of-centre, Trump-aligned candidates taking office. Trump, Lula, and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega are currently the oldest presidents in the Americas, all aged 80.

Lula is scheduled to begin his new term on Jan. 5, 2027. It is expected to be his final campaign. Flávio Bolsonaro may request a recount if he presents evidence of fraud, though it is unclear if his complaint meets the legal threshold for annulment.