Lula Takes Office in January After Runoff Victory

Brazilian voters elected Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to a fourth term on Sunday. The Superior Electoral Court declared him the winner shortly after 9 p.m. Brasilia time. Lula secured more than 51 percent of the vote, accumulating over 64 million ballots. His opponent, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, received 48 percent and more than 59 million votes.

The first round took place on October 4, where Lula trailed Bolsonaro. Lula finished with 45 percent of the vote while Bolsonaro secured 47 percent. This marks the first time in modern Brazilian history that a candidate won a runoff after losing the initial round. Lula will assume office on January 5, 2027, becoming the oldest president sworn in since the country returned to democracy.

Flavio Bolsonaro refused to concede the defeat. He stated he would seek to annul the outcome and challenged a Supreme Court decision that extended voting hours by two. Both campaigns had requested the additional time, keeping polling stations open until 7 p.m. Brasilia time. Bolsonaro accused the court of changing rules during the election.

The voting extension followed reports of logistical disruptions. Public transport suspensions in some areas led Lula's allies to claim Bolsonaro supporters limited bus services to deter working-class voters. Heavy rainfall also impacted southern regions that historically support Bolsonaro. In response, Lula focused his campaign on living costs and promoted a constitutional amendment passed this month to shorten the workweek.

Lula will face the most right-wing Congress in recent memory. He acknowledged this legislative hurdle during his victory speech, noting that the people chose the Congress and that he would work with them to pass laws. His third term saw declines in poverty and low unemployment, but rising household debt and a new ban on online gambling apps created economic friction.

The result interrupts a streak of right-wing presidential gains in the region. Leaders in Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador recently won elections, often supported by US President Donald Trump. Trump's administration had imposed 50 percent tariffs on certain Brazilian products last year to halt the prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio's father. Jair Bolsonaro, whom Lula defeated in 2022, is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup.

US Senator Bernie Sanders called the re-election extraordinary, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum offered congratulations. Donald Trump Jr. criticized the voting extension on social media, suggesting judicial malpractice. US Representative Ro Khanna urged the Trump administration to respect the outcome. Lula has previously described Washington's pressure over the prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro as an attack on Brazil's judicial sovereignty.