In brief
Brazil’s former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva clinched a historic fourth term, beating right‑wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a close vote. The Supreme Court extended polls for two hours amid logistical and weather concerns, yet the extension did not impact the result. Lula’s victory marks the first time since 1985 that a leader has returned after losing the first round, and he vows to strengthen democracy and engage further with the global south. International leaders from across the world extended congratulations, while Bolsonaro continues to refuse acknowledgment of the outcome.
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has won a fourth term in office in a dramatic comeback over his right‑wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro.
Lula took 51.79% of the vote, becoming the first president since the return to civilian rule in 1985 to win an election after losing the first round.
Lula told celebratory crowds that the result was a “loss for negativity and lies,” adding “long live democracy.”
Bolsonaro, son of the now‑convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro, has so far refused to recognise the result and called for it to be annulled, a move experts say is unlikely.
In an unprecedented move, polls were extended for two hours on Sunday evening after both campaigns requested extensions for different reasons.
Lula’s team argued that voters in São Paulo and Bahia could not reach polling stations because of a lack of buses, while Bolsonaro’s campaign cited heavy rain in the south and São Paulo.
The Supreme Court decision, issued as polling stations were about to close, meant some had already closed and could not reopen.
Supreme Court President Kassio Nunes Marques confirmed Lula’s victory and said the extension did not affect the count or electoral process.
Lula secured 51.79% of the vote against Bolsonaro’s 48.21%, a margin of 4.4 million votes.
After Bolsonaro’s first‑round win on 4 October with 47% against Lula’s 45%, Lula accelerated voter turnout, cutting the abstention rate in the second round – the biggest drop since 1989.
While Bolsonaro supporters left Brasília, Lula celebrated in São Paulo, promising the fourth term will be “the best of any president in the history of this country” and that he would listen most to the Brazilian people.
Vice‑President Geraldo Alckmin told him: “You, for the second time, have saved Brazilian democracy.”
With his birth on October 27, Lula turns 81 and will now serve a fourth term lasting until 2030.
The new term comes amid international pressure, including from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly supported Bolsonaro’s father and has suggested a “Donroe Doctrine” to dominate the Western Hemisphere.
Climbs from world leaders: Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa have all congratulated Lula.
Experts say calls to annul the election are remote because the margin is large and the laws set fixed election dates.
Additional reporting by Vinícius de S. Mendes, BBC Brasil.
