Lula Wins Fourth Term in Brazil With Narrow Vote Margin

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a fourth term as president of Brazil, defeating right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro by a margin of 4.4 million votes. Lula received 51.79% of the total vote, while Bolsonaro captured 48.21%. This victory makes Lula the first Brazilian leader to secure a fourth term since the country returned to civilian rule in 1985. He is also the first president to win an election after losing the first round of voting, which took place on October 4.

The final result came after a rare two-hour extension of polling hours on Sunday evening. Both campaigns requested the delay for different reasons. Lula's team cited a shortage of buses that prevented voters in São Paulo and Bahia from reaching polling stations. Senator Bolsonaro's campaign pointed to heavy rain in southern Brazil and São Paulo that hindered access to vote. The Supreme Court issued the order just as polls were set to close, leaving some stations unable to reopen.

Kassio Nunes Marques, the president of the Supreme Court and an appointee of Jair Bolsonaro, confirmed Lula's victory. He stated that the voting extension did not create problems for the vote count or the electoral process. Despite this confirmation, Flavio Bolsonaro has refused to recognize the result. He has called for the election to be annulled, describing the outcome as inexplicable and impossible. His father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, initially prepared for a victory speech before also demanding the result be voided.

Legal experts describe the path to annulment as difficult. Fernando Neisser of the Institute of Lawyers of São Paulo noted that the large margin of victory makes a legal challenge hard to sustain. Alberto Rollo, another expert, added that presidential election dates are fixed by the constitution, which complicates any effort to invalidate the process. The surprise win for Lula followed a first round where Flavio Bolsonaro led with 47% of the vote against Lula's 45%.

Lula's campaign focused on boosting voter turnout after 33 million people abstained in the first round. Sunday saw the largest drop in abstention between two rounds of a presidential election since 1989. In celebration, Lula addressed crowds in the streets of São Paulo. He declared that his fourth term would be the best in the country's history and the one in which he would listen most to the Brazilian people. Vice President Geraldo Alckmin told him that he had saved Brazilian democracy for the second time.

Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, has previously served two non-consecutive terms from 2003 to 2010 and again from 2023. His new term is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2030. The victory positions him to lead during a period of domestic and international constraints. He has expressed tension with US President Donald Trump, who previously supported Jair Bolsonaro. Lula stated that Brazil will not accept being anyone's backyard, a direct reference to the Donroe Doctrine. Leaders from Ecuador, the European Union, Spain, France, and South Africa have sent congratulatory messages, citing the strength of democracy and multilateralism.