Lula Wins Fourth Term With 51.79% of Brazilian Vote

Brazil’s electorate held a runoff vote on Sunday night, selecting a new president in a contest that saw the incumbent stage a late surge. The result determined the next four years of leadership for a nation of 159 million voters.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured the presidency with 51.79% of the total vote. He defeated far-right Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who received 48.21%. This victory represents a difference of approximately 4.3 million votes. Lula will serve a fourth nonconsecutive term, taking office just days before his 81st birthday.

The outcome reversed a narrow lead Bolsonaro held in the first round earlier in October. At that time, Bolsonaro received 56.1 million votes compared to Lula’s 53.8 million. Polls tightened in the weeks between ballots, closing the gap to a fraction of a percentage point before the final count.

Campaign dynamics shifted after a record 21% of eligible voters abstained in the first round, a trend common among lower-income demographics. Lula’s team mobilized millions through a WhatsApp network to share supporting content. The president began posting on Instagram and TikTok, surpassing his rival in digital reach for the first time. Conversely, Bolsonaro’s campaign faced scrutiny over a reported boat party held during the 2020 pandemic.

Flavio Bolsonaro has refused to concede the defeat. He cited a two-hour extension of voting hours as a reason for his stance, a measure both campaigns had requested. Tom Phillips, a correspondent based in Sao Paulo, noted that the winner’s support from international leaders makes a political overturn unlikely. Phillips observed that the Bolsonaro name has become toxic to a slight majority of Brazilian voters.

The victory influences Brazil’s foreign policy stance. Lula has positioned himself as a counterbalance to US President Donald Trump, who had previously imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports. Lula has rejected joining a Latin American military coalition with the Pentagon to fight drug cartels, favoring a multilateral approach with the US, China, and Russia.

Environmental policy faces a mixed outlook. Lula’s government reduced Amazon deforestation by more than 70% over the past four years. However, he will now work with a newly elected congress that includes a record number of right-wing politicians. Many of these new legislators hold positions hostile to Indigenous rights and environmental protections.