Lula Secures Fourth Term in Brazilian Runoff Victory

Brazilian voters confirmed Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for a fourth non-consecutive term on Sunday. The Superior Electoral Court declared Lula the winner shortly after 9 p.m. in Brasilia. He secured more than 64 million ballots, representing over 51 percent of the total. His opponent, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, received more than 59 million votes, or 48 percent. The difference between the two candidates exceeded 4 million votes.

Lula, 80, is scheduled to take office on January 5, 2027. This timeline makes him the oldest president sworn in since Brazil returned to democracy. He becomes the first politician in modern Brazilian history to win a presidential runoff after trailing in the opening round. In the first round held on October 4, Bolsonaro led with 47 percent of the vote, while Lula polled 45 percent.

During his campaign for the second round, Lula focused on living costs. He promoted a constitutional amendment passed this month that shortens the workweek. He also raised the prospect of free public transport on weekends. These moves aimed to address economic dissatisfaction, as rising household debt persisted despite low unemployment and declining poverty rates during his previous term. In September, he banned online gambling and sports betting applications.

Flavio Bolsonaro refused to concede defeat. He stated he would seek to annul the outcome. His challenge targets a Supreme Court decision that extended voting hours by two hours. Both campaigns had requested this additional time. Polling stations remained open until 7 p.m. in Brasilia. Bolsonaro accused the court of changing the rules during the election. He cited disruption and allegations of voter suppression, including reports that public transport was suspended in some areas to limit turnout among working-class voters.

Lula acknowledged the difficulty of governing with the most right-wing Congress in recent memory. Speaking at a podium decorated with flags, he said, “I do not choose the Congress. It was the people who chose it, and it is with them that I will vote, work and get things approved.” His victory interrupts a series of presidential gains by the regional right in countries including Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

International reactions varied. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated Lula. US Senator Bernie Sanders called the re-election extraordinary. However, relations with Washington remain uncertain. The Trump administration supported the Bolsonaro family and imposed 50 percent tariffs on certain Brazilian products last year. This measure aimed to halt the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., criticized the voting extension on social media. US Representative Ro Khanna urged the president to respect the outcome. Jair Bolsonaro, who received a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after losing to Lula in 2022, faces continued legal consequences.