Brazilian President: Lula Wins Fourth Term in Narrow Runoff

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won a fourth non-consecutive term as president of Brazil on Sunday.

The Superior Electoral Court reported that Lula received 51.78 percent of valid votes, while his challenger, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, received 48.22 percent. The court confirmed the results late in the evening.

Heavy rain and technical issues disrupted voting across the nation. Polls were originally scheduled to close at 7:00 pm local time, but the Supreme Court approved a two-hour extension to allow more voters to cast ballots.

Flavio Bolsonaro said he would challenge the outcome in court. "We will engage our legal team and seek to have these elections annulled," he stated. He argued that the rules were arbitrarily changed by the Federal Supreme Court. Reports indicate that both campaigns requested the extension due to downpours and transport disruptions.

This result marks a first in modern Brazilian history. Lula is the first candidate to lose the initial round of voting and then win the runoff. His victory runs counter to a regional trend of conservative governments taking power in Latin America. He is scheduled to begin his new term on January 5, 2027.

Lula has focused his political record on poverty reduction, social spending, and environmental protection. He has also advocated for closer ties with emerging economies and criticized the United States and Israel. In his post-election remarks, he pledged to dedicate himself 24 hours a day to the country. "Brazil is no one's back yard," he told supporters.

Congratulatory messages arrived from international leaders, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, United States Senator Bernie Sanders, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.