Lula claims fourth term with 64 million votes after first-round loss

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured a fourth term on Sunday after defeating right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in the runoff election. The Superior Electoral Court declared Lula the winner shortly after 9 pm Brasilia time. At the time of the announcement, counting was still ongoing, but Lula held more than 51 percent of the vote. He accumulated over 64 million ballots, compared to Bolsonaro's 48 percent and more than 59 million votes. The final gap between the two candidates exceeded 4 million votes.

This victory marks a historical first for the country. Lula is the first politician in modern Brazilian history to win a presidential runoff after trailing in the opening round. He had received 45 percent of the vote in the October 4 first round, behind Bolsonaro's 47 percent. The win grants Lula a non-consecutive fourth term, a milestone in the nation's political timeline.

Lula, an 80-year-old former metalworkers' union leader, is scheduled to take office on January 5, 2027. This date will see him surpass his own record as the oldest president sworn in since Brazil returned to democracy. During his campaign, he focused on living costs and economic stability. He promoted a constitutional amendment passed this month to shorten the workweek and raised the prospect of free public transport on weekends.

Flavio Bolsonaro refused to concede the election. He stated he would seek to annul the outcome, challenging a Supreme Court decision that extended voting hours by two. Both campaigns had requested additional time, and polling stations remained open until 7 pm Brasilia time. Bolsonaro accused the court of changing rules during the election and said he could not accept the result.

The vote extension followed reports of disruption and voter suppression. Public transport suspensions in some areas led Lula's allies to accuse Bolsonaro supporters of limiting bus services to discourage working-class voters. Heavy rainfall also affected southern regions that are traditional Bolsonaro strongholds.

Lula acknowledged the legislative challenges ahead in a post-election speech. He noted that the next term will face the most right-wing Congress in recent memory. He told voters, "I do not choose the Congress," adding that he would work with them to pass legislation.

The result interrupts a series of presidential gains by the regional right in Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum congratulated Lula, while US Senator Bernie Sanders welcomed the re-election. Relations with Washington remain uncertain, as the Trump administration supported the Bolsonaro family and imposed 50 percent tariffs on certain Brazilian products last year to halt the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro.