Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a historic fourth term, defeating Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in Sunday's presidential runoff and defying polls and precedent in one of the most closely watched elections in Latin America this year.
A comeback against the odds
With all votes counted, Brazil's electoral court announced that Lula held an unassailable lead. Reports put his share at about 51.7 percent against about 48.3 percent for Bolsonaro, a margin of roughly 4.2 to 4.4 million votes. Lula finished second in the first round on October 4, making him the first candidate since Brazil's return to direct presidential elections in 1989 to win the presidency after placing second in the opening round.
The victory gives the 80-year-old Workers' Party leader a fourth, non-consecutive term, due to begin on January 5, 2027. Supporters celebrated in Rio de Janeiro and on São Paulo's Avenida Paulista as the result was confirmed, after a campaign dominated by the cost of living, crime and Brazil's relationship with the United States.
A chaotic voting day
The runoff was marked by disruption. A Supreme Court justice ordered voting extended nationwide by two hours after both camps raised problems: Lula's camp pointed to transport delays for voters, while Bolsonaro's camp cited flooding in areas where he had support. Reuters reported that the late decision may trigger legal action from Bolsonaro's side, and that some polling stations had already closed when the extension was ordered.
Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted over a plot to overturn the 2022 election result. Flávio had finished ahead in the first round and hoped to return his family's movement to the presidency.
What the result means for the region
Lula's win bucks a recent rightward trend across Latin America, where several candidates aligned with US President Donald Trump have won office. With Lula in Brazil and a left-of-center leader in Mexico, Latin America's two most populous nations remain led from the left, and Brazil, with an economy worth about $2.6 trillion a year, keeps a degree of distance from Washington despite increased US tariffs.
Still, governing will not be easy. Bolsonaro's Liberal Party emerged as the strongest force in the October 4 legislative elections, which could constrain Lula's agenda in Congress. The coming weeks will show whether the losing camp accepts the result or pursues the legal challenges it has hinted at.
Takeaway: Lula's fourth term is a historic comeback, but it was won narrowly, in a divided country, and the real test now is whether he can govern across that divide.
Watch: Lula supporters celebrate as the historic fourth-term result is confirmed in Brazil.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Lightless Dawn (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0