Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has secured a historic fourth term as Brazil’s president, marking a dramatic electoral resurgence by defeating far-right opponent Flávio Bolsonaro.
With nearly 99% of ballots processed, the 80-year-old incumbent captured 51.75% of the vote, effectively overcoming his rival’s 48.25% share. This result represents a significant reversal, as Lula had trailed behind Bolsonaro by 2.2 million votes during the initial round of voting three weeks ago, only to finish with a margin of 4.3 million votes. With nearly 99% of votes counted the 80-year-old leftist received 51.75% of the vote to his 45-year-old rival’s 48.25%.
This outcome is unprecedented in the history of Brazil’s democracy since the 1980s, as no runner-up from a first-round contest has successfully overturned the lead to win the subsequent runoff. The victory serves as a definitive turning point for the nation’s progressive movement, which had faced intense uncertainty following the initial results in early October.
Addressing the significance of the result, Lula ally Reginaldo Lopes described the win as a global message against far-right policies. Lopes characterized the opposition as being fundamentally opposed to marginalized communities, including the poor and Black populations, and stated that the current administration would now work to reorganize democratic forces across the country. As the result was confirmed, Reginaldo Lopes, a key Lula ally, told: “I feel incredible … This is Brazil telling the world that the extreme right is fascist, that the extreme right is against black people, is against the poor, against the state, against gay people.
Lula’s success is largely attributed to a massive mobilization of his support base. While the first round saw a record abstention rate of 21.08%, which disproportionately impacted Lula’s voters, this figure declined to 19.21% in the final stage. The president, who is set to turn 81 on Tuesday, has now added a new chapter to a political career that traces back to his time as a union organizer in the 1970s. After multiple unsuccessful attempts, he first became the nation’s inaugural working-class president in 2002. The 81-year-old leftist appears to have made up much of the difference through what his allies had identified as his main opportunity: persuading his voters to turn out. Which disproportionately affected Lula voters because they tend to live farther from polling stations, the rate fell to 19.21%, after a record abstention rate of 21.08% in the first round. For Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, the victory represents a sensational final chapter in a storied political career that began when he emerged as a union leader in São Paulo’s industrial suburbs in the late 1970s. The former factory worker who was born in rural poverty made three unsuccessful presidential bids, in 1989, 1994 and 1998, before finally becoming Brazil’s first elected working-class president in 2002, after entering politics.
The election holds wider implications for both domestic and international politics. For the defeated Flávio Bolsonaro, the loss compounds a difficult situation for his family, specifically his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year sentence for orchestrating a coup. The younger Bolsonaro had hoped to secure a government role had he emerged victorious. Lula stepped down after the maximum two consecutive terms allowed by the constitution but returned to power after winning the 2022 election against Bolsonaro’s father, then the incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro, who wa. Lula’s win is bad news for Bolsonaro who is serving a 27-year sentence for that botched power grab and was hoping to be freed and given a role in government had his son prevailed.
Internationally, the result is viewed as a setback for Donald Trump, who sought to expand a network of allied leaders across Latin America. Pro-Trump figures in the region, such as Javier Milei in Argentina, Daniel Noboa in Ecuador, José Antonio Kast in Chile, and Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia, had been watching the contest closely, hoping for a right-wing win in South America’s largest economy.
In the lead-up to the final vote, supporters of the incumbent flooded public spaces, including massive demonstrations at Rio’s Copacabana beach and on Paulista Avenue in São Paulo. These rallies followed concerns over alleged attempts by pro-Bolsonaro politicians to disrupt the electoral process by sabotaging transit options in regions known for strong Lula support.
Supporters gathered to celebrate the final count with renewed optimism. Camilo Buarque, 35, expressed his pride in being part of the movement, citing the collective energy and love among the crowd as a testament to the strength of democracy. Another attendee, 28-year-old Ester Almeida, noted that while the tension was palpable, she remained steadfast in her belief that the comeback was achievable.
Reflecting on the volatility of the race, photographer Caio Marques from the interior of São Paulo acknowledged the initial failure of the left to secure a win in the first round. However, he noted that the voter mobilization in the second round proved decisive, stating that no political interference could undermine the final outcome. The results were met with widespread celebration in São Paulo, where red flags bearing the president’s likeness were prominently displayed throughout the streets. Prompting joyous scenes on the streets of São Paulo, where he had been following the count, and at the hotel where he was watching the count, but Lula did precisely that on Sunday.
