Lula Takes Brazil Presidency After Comeback Win in Runoff

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won the Brazilian presidential election on Sunday.

The Superior Electoral Court declared Lula the winner shortly after 9 p.m. Brasilia time. He received more than 64 million ballots, capturing over 51 percent of the vote. His opponent, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, secured 48 percent with more than 59 million votes. The difference exceeded four million votes.

Lula becomes the first modern Brazilian leader to win a runoff after losing the initial round. He will begin his fourth non-consecutive term on January 5, 2027. At age 80, he sets a new record as the oldest president sworn in since the country returned to democracy.

Speaking at a podium lined with flags, Lula thanked voters for protecting their democratic system. He acknowledged the difficulty of working with the current legislature. “I do not choose the Congress,” he said. “It was the people who chose it, and it is with them that I will vote, work and get things approved.” His new administration faces a legislature with a strong right-wing majority.

Flavio Bolsonaro refused to concede the loss. He announced plans to challenge the result legally, citing a Supreme Court decision that extended voting hours by two. Both campaigns had requested the extra time, keeping polling stations open until 7 p.m. Bolsonaro accused the court of changing the rules mid-election. He said he could not accept the outcome based on that change.

The decision to extend voting followed reports of public transport suspensions and heavy rain in southern regions. Lula’s supporters claimed the transport issues aimed to limit turnout among working-class voters. In the first round on October 4, Bolsonaro led with 47 percent to Lula’s 45 percent. The incumbent then focused on household debt, a shorter workweek, and free weekend public transport.

The victory halts a recent wave of right-wing gains in South America. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and US Senator Bernie Sanders both praised the result. Trump administration officials, however, criticized the process. Donald Trump Jr. suggested judicial malpractice on social media. US Representative Ro Khanna urged Washington to respect the outcome. The Trump administration had previously imposed 50 percent tariffs on certain Brazilian goods to pressure the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who now faces a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup.