Brazilian Politics: Lula Claims Fourth Term in Runoff Reversal

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured a fourth non-consecutive term in office on Sunday after a decisive victory in the presidential runoff.

The Superior Electoral Court announced Lula as the winner shortly after 9 p.m. in Brasilia while vote counting continued. The incumbent captured more than 51 percent of the ballot, totaling over 64 million votes, while his opponent, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, received 48 percent and more than 59 million votes. This margin exceeds four million votes.

Lula, who is 80 years old, enters the second round with a 45 percent share of the vote from the October 4 first round, trailing Bolsonaro’s 47 percent at the time. During his third term, the economy saw a decline in poverty and low unemployment, yet rising household debt created dissatisfaction among voters. To address these concerns, Lula promoted a constitutional amendment passed this month to shorten the workweek and proposed free public transport on weekends. He also banned online gambling and sports betting apps in September.

The race was marked by logistical issues, including heavy rainfall in southern Bolsonaro strongholds and reports of suspended public transport in some areas. Both campaigns requested additional voting time, leading the Supreme Court to extend polls until 7 p.m. local time. This extension became a central point of contention for the losing side.

Flavio Bolsonaro refused to concede defeat, stating he would seek to annul the outcome. He accused the court of changing the rules mid-election and argued he could not accept the result. Lula, speaking from a podium decorated with flags, acknowledged the challenge of governing with a right-leaning Congress. He noted that he did not choose the legislature, but rather the people, and pledged to work with them to pass legislation.

Lula is scheduled to be sworn in on January 5, 2027, which will make him the oldest president in modern Brazilian history. His victory interrupts a recent trend of right-wing presidential wins in Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Regional and international leaders, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, offered congratulations.

Tensions with Washington remain high following the Trump administration’s support for the Bolsonaro family and the imposition of 50 percent tariffs on certain Brazilian goods last year. These measures were intended to halt the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after his 2022 defeat. Donald Trump Jr. criticized the voting extension on social media, while U.S. Representative Ro Khanna urged the president to respect the electoral result.