Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a prominent critic of President Trump and a leading figure of the Latin American left, secured an unprecedented fourth term in Sunday's runoff election. He defeated Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, according to Brazil's electoral court.
With nearly all votes counted, Lula led by about 4.4 million votes, capturing 51.8 percent of the ballots. The victory extends his political comeback, having previously served as president from 2003 to 2011 before a conviction that was later annulled.
Lula's Victory Speech
In a statement on social platform X, Lula declared: "We made history in the streets and at the ballot boxes, with the people as the protagonists of a journey that still has a long way to go. Democracy prevailed, hope grew stronger, and Brazil moves forward. This victory is ours. And we're going to do so much more together!"
The election was marked by an unusual intervention from Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin, who ordered polling stations to remain open for two extra hours at the request of both campaigns. Lula cited transportation issues, while Bolsonaro pointed to flooding in his southern strongholds.
Bolsonaro's Rejection
Flávio Bolsonaro immediately rejected the outcome, calling for annulment. He alleged that Zanin, a former lawyer for Lula, had changed "the rules of the game in the middle of the game." Speaking to supporters, he said: "I do not recognize this. There is no way I can accept this outrage that was committed against Brazil. I will take legal action and I will not give up on Brazil."
President Trump, who had backed Bolsonaro's campaign, has not commented. However, his son Donald Trump Jr. criticized the result on X, suggesting the mainstream press would have reacted differently if a conservative had won under similar circumstances.
Reuters reported that the State Department had sought to help restore the Bolsonaros to power ahead of the election. Trump has often been compared to Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Lula.
International Reactions
World leaders congratulated Lula. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, one of the few remaining left-wing leaders in Latin America, wrote: "Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney praised the bilateral relationship, saying it "has flourished under our partnership" and urged building on it for trade and environmental cooperation.
Lula, who began his political career as a union leader in the 1970s and founded the Workers' Party, campaigned on addressing the cost of living and security in a nation plagued by violence. His victory marks a significant shift for Brazil, with implications for regional politics and U.S.-Brazil relations.
