Lula Wins Fourth Term: Brazilian President Defeats Bolsonaro Son
Lula secured 51.79% of the vote in a narrow victory that surprised many after his opponent led the first round.
By Evelyn Henderson ·
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth term in office on Sunday, defeating right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a close contest. Lula captured 51.79% of the total votes cast, while Bolsonaro received 48.21%. The margin between the two candidates was 4.4 million votes.
Lula becomes the first president since Brazil returned to civilian rule in 1985 to win an election after losing the first round. The former metal worker addressed celebratory crowds in São Paulo, describing the result as a loss for negativity and lies. He stated that this fourth term will be the best in the country's history and that he will listen most to the Brazilian people during this period.
The voting process on Sunday evening saw an unusual extension of two hours. Supreme Court President Kassio Nunes Marques authorized the extension after both campaigns requested extra time. Lula's team argued that voters in São Paulo and Bahia lacked sufficient bus transport to reach polling stations. Bolsonaro's campaign cited heavy rain in southern regions and parts of São Paulo as the reason for the delay. Some polling stations that had already closed were unable to reopen.
Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro, refused to recognize the result immediately. He called for the election to be annulled, labeling the outcome inexplicable and impossible. Electoral law experts, however, view the chances of annulment as remote. Fernando Neisser from the Institute of Lawyers of São Paulo noted that the legal difficulty is high given the relatively large margin of victory. Alberto Rollo added that presidential election dates are fixed by the constitution, adding another layer of complexity to any legal challenge.
The victory came as a surprise to many observers. Flávio Bolsonaro had won the first round of voting on October 4 with 47% of the vote, ahead of Lula's 45%. Lula's campaign gained momentum in the weeks leading up to the final vote by focusing on increasing voter turnout. The number of abstentions dropped sharply between rounds, marking the largest decrease in abstention between presidential election rounds since 1989.
Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, has previously served two terms from January 2003 to December 2010 and a third term starting in January 2023. His new term will run until 2030. Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin told Lula that he had saved Brazilian democracy for the second time. Lula's administration faces constraints at home and abroad, including tensions with US President Donald Trump.
Lula used his victory speech to address what Trump has called the Donroe Doctrine, a policy seeking US dominance in the Western Hemisphere. Lula insisted that Brazil will not accept being anyone's backyard. Trump has previously shown support for Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted of a coup attempt following his 2022 loss to Lula. Flávio Bolsonaro met with Trump at the White House earlier this year to seek his backing.
World leaders have congratulated Lula on his win. Ecuador President Daniel Noboa Azin stated that the region shares common enemies and challenges. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said democracy and multilateralism had won. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the result a great victory, while French President Emmanuel Macron said the two nations should work toward a more just world. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described the win as a victory for the global south.
Source: BBC News
