Lula Wins Fourth Term in Brazil After Extended Vote

Brazilian voters on Sunday elected Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to a fourth presidential term, ending a bitter campaign that saw him overcome a deficit from the first round. Lula secured 51.79% of the total votes, while his challenger, Flávio Bolsonaro, received 48.21%. The margin between the two candidates was 4.4 million votes. This victory makes Lula the first president since the return of civilian rule in 1985 to win after losing the initial ballot. His new term will begin on 5 January and last until 2030.

The path to this result involved a final stretch of voting that lasted two hours longer than planned. The Supreme Court issued the extension just as polling stations were set to close. Both campaigns had requested the extra time for different reasons. Lula’s team argued that a lack of buses in São Paulo and Bahia prevented voters from reaching their polling places. Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign cited heavy rain in southern Brazil and parts of São Paulo. Some stations that had already shut could not reopen, but Supreme Court President Kassio Nunes Marques stated that the extension did not cause issues for the count. Marques, who was appointed by Jair Bolsonaro, confirmed Lula’s victory.

Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, has refused to accept the outcome. He called the result "inexplicable" and "impossible" and asked for it to be annulled. Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for a coup attempt, supported his son’s position. Electoral experts say the chances of annulment are low. Fernando Neisser from the Institute of Lawyers of São Paulo noted that it would be difficult legally because the margin was large. Alberto Rollo added that constitutional rules fix election dates, adding to the complexity of overturning the result.

Lula’s victory followed a sharp increase in voter turnout. The drop in abstention between the first and second rounds was the largest recorded since 1989. In the first round on 4 October, Flávio Bolsonaro led with 47% of the vote against Lula’s 45%. Lula’s camp focused on engaging the 33 million people who did not vote in the first round. Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, has previously served two terms from 2003 to 2010 and began his third term in 2023.

After the win, Lula took to the streets in São Paulo to address supporters. He described the election as a defeat for negativity and lies. Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin told Lula that he had saved Brazilian democracy for the second time. Lula stated that his fourth term would be the best in the country’s history because he would listen most to the people. In his speech, he also addressed foreign relations, specifically the stance of US President Donald Trump. Lula said Brazil would not accept being anyone’s backyard, referencing Trump’s desire for dominance in the Western Hemisphere.

International leaders responded to the result with congratulations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said democracy and multilateralism had won. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called it a great victory for global progressivism. French President Emmanuel Macron said France and Brazil should work for a more just world. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described the win as a victory for the global south. Ecuador President Daniel Noboa Azin said the region has much to gain when working together. Trump had not reacted to the result as of Sunday evening.

The next step in the political process is the formal inauguration of Lula and Alckmin. The ceremony is scheduled for 5 January. Until then, Lula will serve as the incumbent president while preparing for his new term. Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign has not indicated when it will formally file its request for annulment. The Brazilian Supreme Court will review any legal challenges to the results. Lula’s administration will begin its work in Brasília on the same day the new term starts. The transition will happen while Jair Bolsonaro remains in prison.