Lula takes fourth term in Brazil

Brazilian voters on Sunday selected Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for a fourth presidential term, granting the 81-year-old leader control of the nation until 2030. This outcome shifts power back to the left after a bitter campaign and sets the stage for a new administration that begins on 5 January. The victory represents a major political shift in a country where right-wing parties have recently gained ground in neighboring Argentina, Chile, and Colombia.

The path to this result involved a sudden extension of voting hours on Sunday evening. Both campaigns requested the extension for different reasons. Lula's team argued that voters in São Paulo and Bahia faced transportation shortages. Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign cited heavy rain in the south and São Paulo. The Supreme Court issued the order just as polls were scheduled to close, leaving some stations unable to reopen. Supreme Court President Kassio Nunes Marques confirmed the extension did not disrupt the counting process.

Lula received 51.79% of the vote, while Flávio Bolsonaro received 48.21%. The gap between the two candidates amounted to 4.4 million votes. This result surprised many observers because Bolsonaro had won the first round on 4 October. In that earlier vote, Bolsonaro secured 47% of the total, while Lula garnered 45%. Lula's campaign focused on increasing voter turnout in the second round, and the final results showed the largest drop in abstention between rounds since 1989.

Lula told crowds in São Paulo that the election was a defeat for "negativity, lies" and declared "long live democracy." He described the upcoming four years as the best term in the country's history, promising to listen more closely to citizens. Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin joined him, stating that Lula had "saved Brazilian democracy" for the second time.

Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro, refused to concede the loss immediately. He called for the result to be annulled, describing the outcome as "inexplicable" and "impossible." Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence for a coup attempt, had planned a victory speech but instead joined the call for the vote to be voided. Legal experts noted that annulment is unlikely given the size of the margin and fixed constitutional dates for elections.

The new term begins on 5 January, though Lula turns 81 on Tuesday. His victory comes amid tensions with the United States, where President Donald Trump has expressed support for the Bolsonaro family. Lula used his speech to assert that Brazil "will not accept being anyone's backyard," a reference to the US focus on Western Hemisphere dominance. Other world leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, have already sent congratulations.

Lula becomes the first Brazilian president since 1985 to win an election after losing the first round. He previously served two non-consecutive terms, from 2003 to 2010 and from 2023 to the present. His new term will see him navigate a political landscape where his former rivals remain active, though the constitutional framework now firmly places him in the presidency for the next four years.