Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured an unprecedented fourth term as the president of Brazil on Sunday following a runoff election against Flávio Bolsonaro, The Hill reports. The electoral court confirmed that Lula finished with 51.8 percent of the vote, putting him ahead of his opponent by nearly 4.4 million ballots. This win marks a major return for the leader who previously served as president from 2003 to 2011.
Lula shared his thoughts on the outcome on X shortly after the results were confirmed. “We made history in the streets and at the ballot boxes, with the people as the protagonists of a journey that still has a long way to go,” he wrote. “Democracy prevailed, hope grew stronger, and Brazil moves forward. This victory is ours. And we’re going to do so much more together!”
The path to these results involved a last-minute shift in the timeline. Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered polls to stay open for two additional hours. Both candidates requested this extension, though they had different reasons. Lula pointed to transportation issues for voters, while Bolsonaro cited flooding that impacted his southern strongholds.
Flávio Bolsonaro immediately pushed back against the final count and claimed the process was rigged
Bolsonaro specifically targeted the decision to extend voting hours, arguing that Justice Zanin, who served as a lawyer for Lula in the past, shifted the requirements during the process. “I do not recognize this,” Bolsonaro told supporters, according to Al Jazeera. “There is no way I can accept this outrage that was committed against Brazil. I will take legal action and I will not give up on Brazil.”
The political reaction outside of Brazil was split. Donald Trump, who backed the Bolsonaro campaign, has not issued a comment on the win. However, Donald Trump Jr. shared his disapproval on X. “If a conservative government in Brazil did this, everyone in the mainstream press in America would lose their minds, but I guess they’re just choosing to be silent because it’s all for the cause,” he wrote. Reports indicate that the State Department had previously tried to help the Bolsonaro family’s return to power before the election took place.
Other world leaders shared messages of support for Lula. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated the result on X, stating, “Long live democracy, the people of Brazil won.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also reached out to the president-elect on X. He noted that the partnership between their nations has thrived and suggested that there is room for growth. “Let’s seize this opportunity to make it even stronger, together, to create major new trade opportunities, protect the environment, and build greater prosperity for both our peoples,” he wrote.
Lula, who started his career as a union leader in the 1970s and founded the Workers’ Party, focused his latest campaign on the cost of living and national security. He takes office in a country that has dealt with internal violence for some time. His history includes handing the presidency to Dilma Rousseff in 2011, who was later impeached in 2016.
This election also follows the political era of Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for his attempt at a coup after losing the 2022 election to Lula.
Published: Oct 26, 2026 06:45 pm