Lula Clinches Fourth Term With 51.79% of Vote
The veteran leader defeated Flávio Bolsonaro by 4.4 million votes in a runoff that featured an unusual two-hour extension of voting hours.
By Lauren Bello ·
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a fourth term in office on Sunday, defeating right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro with 51.79% of the vote. This victory makes Lula the first president since Brazil returned to civilian rule in 1985 to win an election after losing the initial round. The 81-year-old leader took to the streets in São Paulo to celebrate with supporters, declaring that this would be the best term in the country's history.
The election unfolded with unexpected twists on election day. Both campaigns requested extensions to voting hours for different reasons. Lula's team cited a lack of buses in São Paulo and Bahia that prevented voters from reaching polling stations, while Bolsonaro's camp pointed to heavy rain in the south and São Paulo. The Supreme Court granted a two-hour extension just as polls were scheduled to close, a move that left some stations unable to reopen after they had already shut.
The final tally showed a 4.4 million vote margin in Lula's favor. Bolsonaro, the son of convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro, has refused to recognize the outcome. He called the result "inexplicable" and "impossible," arguing that it should be annulled. Supreme Court President Kassio Nunes Marques, appointed by the elder Bolsonaro, confirmed the win and stated that the voting extension did not disrupt the count.
Legal experts view the prospect of an annulment as remote. Fernando Neisser of the Institute of Lawyers of São Paulo noted that overturning the result would be difficult given the size of the margin. Alberto Rollo added that constitutional dates for presidential elections are fixed, creating additional hurdles for any legal challenge. The race was particularly close in the first round on October 4, where Bolsonaro led with 47% against Lula's 45%.
Lula's campaign focused on boosting turnout in the runoff, a strategy that appeared effective. Sunday marked the largest drop in abstention between the two rounds of a presidential election since 1989. Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin told Lula that he had "saved Brazilian democracy" for the second time. The new term is set to begin on January 5 and will last until 2030.
The victory positions Lula to continue his administration amid tensions with the United States. He used his speech to address US President Donald Trump's "Donroe Doctrine," stating that Brazil "will not accept being anyone's backyard." Trump has previously supported Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence. Flávio Bolsonaro met with Trump at the White House earlier this year to seek support for the campaign.
